Dutch zookeeper dies after leopard attack

An animal keeper for a Dutch zoo died on Tuesday after suffering severe injuries from a panther that attacked her in the park last week. The worker joined the Safaripark Beekse Bergen at the age of 17 and had worked there for almost 40 years, according to a zoo statement. The zoo, which did not name the employee, said a space in the park would be designated to allow people to leave messages of condolence. Beekse Bergen also said an independent investigation into the incident had been launched.

How did the attack happen? According to Dutch public broadcaster NOS News, the park reported that the employee was working alone in the enclosure of two Persian leopards during the Oct. 24 attack. She was able to raise an alarm herself using her walkie-talkie, but she ultimately sustained serious head and neck injuries, according to NOS. The woman underwent emergency surgery, but her condition worsened Sunday evening. It is unclear exactly why the leopards attacked her, and the park said there were no cameras in the animals’ enclosure, according to the broadcaster.

WORLD has reached out to the zoo for comment on the status of the investigation.