A devastating event disturbed the “Zoo Salzburg Hellbrunn” in Austria, when a 33-year-old worker met his death in an alleged attack by a rhinoceros, while fulfilling his day- day’s work in the section of these impressive creatures.
The fatal accident happened on Tuesday, before 7:00 a.m. local time, when the employee, who is of German origin, was in the rhino area preparing to apply insect repellent to the Yeti, a female which rhino lives in the zoo.
In details that remain unclear, Yeti allegedly attacked the worker, causing immediate fatal injuries, authorities said.
A co-worker, 34, immediately intervened to help the worker and tried to disperse the rhino in a painful effort to save him. However, he also sustained injuries during the test and was rushed to the Salzburg University Hospital, where he was treated for his serious injuries.
Sabine Grebner, the director of “Zoo Salzburg Hellbrunn”, stated in a live-streamed press conference that the authorities are still unclear about the exact circumstances surrounding this terrible event.
The zoo, located in Salzburg near the German border, chose to remain closed for the day as a mark of respect for this tragic event.
Local entities are conducting a thorough investigation to clarify the causes of the incident and review security measures in the rhino area. Events of this nature are very rare in zoos, and the event has greatly affected the surrounding community and nature fans around the world.
The death of the dedicated worker and the injuries experienced by his partner are a painful warning of the potential dangers associated with working with wild creatures, despite the established safety regulations in zoos. The zoological society and the metropolis of Salzburg are in mourning as they await an explanation about this unfortunate event.
