The Salzburg Zoo in Austria is closed after a rhino attacked keepers
Photo: Reproduction/APA
On Tuesday the 12th, several zookeepers at a zoo in Salzburg, Austria were attacked by a rhinoceros. The woman, a 33yearold German and an expert on the mammal, died after being trampled by the animal. The husband, who tried to help his partner, suffered serious injuries but his life is out of danger.
The case occurred the morning before Hellbrunn Zoo opened to the public. The employee treated Jeti, a 30yearold female rhino, and applied insect repellent to the animal before it was attacked. The work was part of the rhino’s daily care routine.
Unexpectedly, the woman was knocked down and trampled on the chest by the animal. Her husband, a 34yearold nurse, tried to save his wife but was also injured. Rescue workers tried to revive the nurse, who succumbed to her injuries and died at the scene.
Rhinos in Hellbrunn Zoo, Austria
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The husband was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but his life is out of danger. Sabine Grebner, director of the zoo, told the APA news agency that the motive for the attack was still unclear.
“She was very careful and concerned about animals and had extremely common sense,” the director explained. She points out that, among other things, irritation could have caused the animal to attack the keepers. According to Grebner, the zoo will reassess safety measures when handling animals.
In addition to an internal audit to determine the causes of the incident, the case is also being investigated by the Austrian police. Hellbrunn Zoo, which houses more than 1,500 animals on an area of more than 14 hectares, remained closed to the public this Tuesday and will not open on Wednesday the 13th.
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Source: Editora Terra