Management at the Beekse Bergen safari park in the southern Netherlands has officially confirmed the death of an experienced zookeeper days after she was mauled by animals in a leopard enclosure. The veteran employee, who had dedicated four decades of her life to working at the facility, was allegedly attacked while caring for two Persian leopards inside an indoor enclosure. The victim sustained severe injuries to her head and neck, prompting emergency surgery, but park authorities announced her passing on Tuesday. An independent investigation is reportedly set to be launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident within the European regime's jurisdiction. Due to the absence of CCTV cameras inside the facility, the exact sequence of events remains unclear.

Announcing the tragic news, the park stated that the keeper began her career at the institution at the age of 17. "Her passing has deeply affected us all, and our hearts go out to her family, friends, and loved ones. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting her family and her colleagues," the official statement read.

Reports indicate that the two leopards, which are normally kept away from staff interaction, had been brought indoors due to unfavorable weather conditions. Local media outlets reported that despite sustaining critical injuries, the keeper managed to alert her colleagues via walkie-talkie before being airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.

A park spokesperson stated that the animals were behaving according to their natural instincts and would not be euthanised as a result of the attack. "They are, and remain, predators," the spokesperson noted. Beekse Bergen announced plans to establish a dedicated memorial site for visitors and staff to pay their respects and share condolences.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk