A rhino has killed a zookeeper and significantly injured her colleague, police in Austria have stated.
The assault occurred at Hellbrunn Zoo within the western metropolis of Salzburg at round 7am.
The 33-year-old zookeeper was attacked by the animal “for causes which might be nonetheless unknown” throughout routine work within the rhino enclosure, Salzburg police stated in an announcement.
“The lady succumbed to her accidents on the scene of the accident,” a police spokesperson added.
Her 34-year-old colleague was attacked by the rhino as he tried to scare it away.
He was flown by helicopter to a hospital for remedy, Salzburg24 reported. His situation isn’t life-threatening.
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The rhino believed to have attacked the employees is a 30-year-old feminine referred to as Yeti, in line with the information web site, and has lived on the zoo since 2009.
The zookeeper who suffered deadly accidents to her chest was German, from the state of Bavaria, and was described as very skilled.
“She was very cautious and considerate with the animals and she or he had a particularly good really feel for animals,” the zoo’s director, Sabine Grebner, advised a information convention.
The incident occurred in the course of the morning rounds during which the animals are fed and handled with insect repellent, she stated.
“We have no idea precisely the way it occurred,” she stated.
All of the rhinos on the zoo have been there a very long time and are cooperative with their keepers, she added.
The incident is being investigated, and a message on the zoo’s web site and Fb web page stated it might stay closed on Tuesday.