Germany: Zookeeper Rushed To Hospital After Being Attacked By Lion

A zookeeper in Germany was hospitalized Sunday after being attacked by a lion while cleaning the animal’s cage. The incident was reported from Osnabrück Zoo in the northwestern part of the country.

The employee managed to escape without any major injuries but was rushed to a nearby hospital as a precaution, NY Daily News reported

A gate separating the lions and the zookeeper was not properly closed when she entered the cage, the outlet reported, citing NDR. While the lion injured the woman’s back, she was able to escape without further harm.

Terming it an incident of negligence, police told NDR that the case would be considered an industrial accident and will not be investigated as a criminal matter.

Meanwhile, the zoo said that it would investigate and get to the bottom of the cause. The zoo is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This incident took place just days after a camel bit a zookeeper in Germany’s Perleberg Zoo while the man was cleaning out an enclosure. The 54-year-old, who was not identified, was rushed to a nearby hospital and suffered serious injuries. The zookeeper was reportedly taken by surprise when one of the camels he was feeding turned toward him and bit him in his face.

Another incident in which a zookeeper was seriously injured was also reported September last year from a zoo in Madrid.

A zookeeper suffered serious injuries after being viciously mauled by a gorilla. According to reports, The zoo officials said that the gorilla attacked the zookeeper when he entered a protected area of the zoo for routine feeding and cleaning.

"Upon entering a bounded area with a triple door, the caretaker met Malabo, a 29-year-old male gorilla, who had accessed it," the zoo officials said in a statement. The zoo said it was investigating internally how the gorilla managed to enter the area. Paramedics treated the zookeeper before he was rushed to the Madrid Clinical Hospital.

The zookeeper, who was not identified, suffered a head injury, chest trauma and was left with two broken arms after the attack, according to media reports.