Rhino crushes keeper to death in Austrian zoo

Police said a 33-year-old woman was attacked by the animal 'for reasons that are still unknown'

A rhinoceros in its enclosure at the Zoo Salzburg. Another rhino there attacked and killed one zookeeper and severely injured another on Tuesday. AFP

A rhinoceros crushed a female keeper to death and injured her husband, a fellow employee, at an Austrian zoo on Tuesday.

The incident, at Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn on the outskirts of the city, occurred during the morning rounds in which the animals are fed and treated with insect repellent, said director Sabine Grebner.

Salzburg police said that during routine work in the rhino enclosure, a 33-year-old zookeeper was attacked by the animal “for reasons that are still unknown”.

“The woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the accident,” police said.

Ms Grebner said the woman, a German from Bavaria, was assigned that day to put an insect repellent on the rhino.

It was then that 30-year-old female rhino, Jeti, attacked her but it was not clear why.

The other keeper, a 34-year-old Austrian, was attacked and injured when he tried to chase the rhino away from his wife.

The woman suffered severe chest trauma and died in the enclosure, while her husband suffered a fractured leg and was taken to the hospital.

The names of the two keepers were not given in line with Austrian privacy rules.

Ms Grebner said the fatally injured keeper was known to be “very careful and thoughtful with the animals, and she had an extremely good sense” when dealing with them.

She said the circumstances of how the accident occurred had yet to be determined.

“We don't know what exactly happened,” she said. “We are deeply upset and shocked.”

The female zookeeper was very experienced and specialised in rhinos, while her husband was in charge of animal feed.

Ms Grebner said all the rhinos at the zoo have been there a long time and are co-operative with their keepers.

The Salzburg Hellbrunn Zoo was closed for the day after a zookeeper was killed in a rhino attack on Tuesday. AFP

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, rhinos can be protective, but are rarely aggressive if unprovoked.

“Rhinos prefer to roam unhindered and undisturbed. However, if they perceive a threat, they may defend themselves by charging. Female rhinos are often very protective of their calves,” the charity said on its website.

Female rhinos can weigh about 1,400kg and reach up to nearly 1.8 metres tall. They are considered an endangered species.