Dutch zookeeper dies days after brutal leopard attack

A veteran zookeeper in the Netherlands has died after being mauled by a pair of Persian leopards inside their enclosure, leaving colleagues and the safari park community devastated.

The woman, who had spent around four decades working at Beekse Bergen safari park in the southern Netherlands, sustained severe injuries to her head and neck during the attack on Saturday. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, she died on Tuesday, the park confirmed.

The tragic incident has prompted an independent investigation as authorities seek to establish what happened inside the enclosure.

According to Beekse Bergen, the experienced keeper was caring for two Persian leopards in an indoor facility when the attack occurred. The animals had been moved inside because of bad weather conditions.

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, as there are no CCTV cameras inside the enclosure.

Local media outlet NL Times reported that the keeper managed to alert her colleagues using a walkie-talkie despite her injuries. She was subsequently airlifted to hospital in critical condition.

Four Decades of Service End in Tragedy

In a statement announcing her death, Beekse Bergen paid tribute to the keeper, revealing that she began her career at the park when she was just 17 years old.

Over the following 40 years, she worked at the safari park on and off, building a long-standing connection with the facility and its staff.

“Her passing has deeply affected us all, and our hearts go out to her family, friends, and loved ones,” the park said.

It added that its immediate priority was supporting her grieving family and colleagues as they cope with the loss.

The park also announced plans to establish a memorial location where visitors and staff members can leave messages of condolence and pay their respects.

Leopards Will Not Be Put Down

The attack has also raised questions about the animals involved and the circumstances in which they were being handled.

A spokesperson for Beekse Bergen told local broadcaster Omroep Brabant that the leopards had behaved naturally and would not be euthanised following the incident.

“They are, and remain, predators,” the spokesperson said.

The animals are usually kept separate from staff, but they had been brought into the indoor facility because of the adverse weather.

An independent investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the attack and determine how the incident occurred.

For now, the tragedy has left the safari park mourning an experienced colleague whose working life was closely tied to the animals she cared for over four decades.