On Saturday, one of the two tigers at Zoo Zurich attacked a 55-year-old zookeeper who died. A visitor sounded the alarm, but despite the intervention of a team of guards, the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the attack. She was a long-time employee of the zoo.
The zoo remained closed on Sunday out of respect for the family of the deceased. Saturday’s incident was most tragic but the Amur tiger, however, is a wild animal that instinctively defends its territory, said a zoo representative on Sunday. Irina will therefore be spared.
The zoo will reopen on Monday with the exception of the tiger viewing area. The tigress Irina was placed in a separate area after the accident. The five-year-old female has only been in Zoo Zurich for a year and was brought over last summer from Denmark.
The police are still investigating the attack but initial evidence indicates that it was an accident, according to a police statement issued on Sunday. The exact circumstances of the attack have yet to be clarified but what is known is that the tigress attacked the keeper when the two were in the animal’s enclosure, media reports say.
The tigers at Zoo Zurich are cared for without direct contact with humans. In principle, keepers and animals should never be in the same room.
The site of the tragedy remains closed for the purposes of the investigation. Interrogations of employees are still ongoing. On Sunday, the Zurich city police announced they were looking for visitors who may have been near the tiger enclosure on Saturday between 13:00 and 13:30. Witnesses are requested to contact the police via phone at 0 444 117 117.
More
More
Keeper killed by tiger in Zurich zoo
This content was published on
A 55-year old zoo keeper has been killed by a tiger at Zoo Zurich.
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Europe offers last line of defence for the Asiatic lion
This content was published on
The endangered Asiatic lion is threatened by a contagious virus in India. In a worst-case scenario can captive animals in Europe help?
This content was published on
Basel and Zurich zoos recently launched major new development projects. Although they claim to be more animal-friendly ...
This content was published on
Markus Schietsch clearly remembers his first encounter with a wild bull elephant. He was in the back of an open pickup truck when the elephant repeatedly mock charged the vehicle in the Kaeng Krachan national park in Thailand. The adrenalin-packed experience was courtesy of a study trip organised by the Zurich zoo, as the Zurich…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.