Beekse Bergen safari park in the south of the Netherlands said an experienced keeper has died days after she was mauled inside an indoor Persian leopard facility on Saturday, according to a park statement reported by BBC News (27 Oct 2026). The park said she suffered head and neck injuries, underwent emergency surgery, and died on Tuesday.
What the park says
Beekse Bergen stated the keeper began her career there at age 17 and had worked at the park on and off for four decades. “Her passing has deeply affected us all, and our hearts go out to her family, friends, and loved ones. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting her family and her colleagues,” the park said, per BBC News.
The park said the two Persian leopards were brought indoors due to bad weather and are usually kept away from staff. A park spokesperson told local outlet Omroep Brabant that the leopards would not be euthanised and said they were behaving naturally. “They are, and remain, predators,” the spokesperson said, according to Omroep Brabant, as cited by the BBC.
What we don’t know
BBC News reported there are no CCTV cameras inside the enclosure, and it is not clear exactly what happened. Local news website NL Times reported the keeper managed to alert colleagues via her walkie-talkie despite her injuries and was airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
What happens next
Beekse Bergen said an independent investigation will be launched. The park also said it will create a memorial location for guests and staff to share condolences.
