In brief
In a tragic turn at Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands, a 40‑year‑old zookeeper who had carried out her job since age 17 was killed after a leopard attack. She sustained severe head and neck injuries and died several days after emergency surgery. An independent inquiry has been ordered to learn how the incident occurred, with no CCTV footage inside the enclosure. The zoo confirmed the leopards remain on site and will not be euthanised. A memorial will be set up for staff and visitors to pay tribute to the lost keeper.
An experienced keeper at Beekse Bergen, a Dutch safari park, has died after being mauled in a leopard enclosure, the park confirmed.
The 40‑year‑old woman was caring for two Persian leopards in an indoor unit when the animals attacked on Saturday.
She suffered serious head and neck injuries and, despite surgery, the park announced her death on Tuesday.
The zoo will launch an independent investigation into the incident; no CCTV cameras were inside the enclosure, making the sequence of events unclear.
Local media reported that, even while injured, she managed to alert colleagues over a walkie‑talkie before being flown to a hospital in a helicopter.
Park officials said the leopards are not being euthanised, emphasising that “they are, and remain, predators.”
Plans are in place to create a memorial at the park for guests and staff to pay their respects to the fallen keeper.
