Shoalhaven Zoo Keeper Seriously Injured by Lion

Of course I don't with injury or death upon anyone but I do think if you intentionally go into an enclosure with a lion or tiger you are an absolute *&@#! idiot.
Click to expand...

I personally don’t see the need to got in with big cats like lions and tiger, especially in the manner it’s done at some facilities, but I don’t think it’s fair to call this girl a “*&@#! Idiot”. Keepers work in with tigers at dreamworld and at Australia zoo, both doing so for 25 and 15 years respectively with only a handful of incidents I can recall. I think if you choose to go in with big cats there needs to be very strict and lengthy protocol involved to prevent an incident like this and zoos can’t become complacent with this. In my opinion, you can’t blame the individual for being attacked because she was working in there going along with park practice, it’s the fault of the park policies and procedures that didn’t do enough to prevent it.
 
Riley said:
I personally don’t see the need to got in with big cats like lions and tiger, especially in the manner it’s done at some facilities, but I don’t think it’s fair to call this girl a “*&@#! Idiot”. Keepers work in with tigers at dreamworld and at Australia zoo, both doing so for 25 and 15 years respectively with only a handful of incidents I can recall. I think if you choose to go in with big cats there needs to be very strict and lengthy protocol involved to prevent an incident like this and zoos can’t become complacent with this. In my opinion, you can’t blame the individual for being attacked because she was working in there going along with park practice, it’s the fault of the park policies and procedures that didn’t do enough to prevent it.
Click to expand...

Agreed. As a minimum, she should have been doubled up with a second keeper if working in an exhibit with big cats (direct contact). New Zealand zoos have this policy for working with all dangerous animals (which is all non contact/protected contact). From media reports, it appears she wasn’t working alongside another keeper as they’re reporting she was found by two other workers unconscious in the exhibit.
 
Riley said:
I believe that the DPI have been relaxing this restriction lately and allowing keepers access to animal at the discretion of the zoos owners/directors so long as they were suitably hand raised and trained. If the 20kg rule we’re still followed that would mean that the wild cat centre couldn’t work in with their cheetah nor could any zoo work in with maned wolves or even some large binturong, none of which, so long as the cheetah are hand raised, I couldn’t see posing a massive threat to keepers working in with them.

I can imagine that following this incident the rules may change but I honestly feel that 20kg is too low. Something like this can’t just be managed under a weight range but should be assessed with regards to each species general demeanour and likelihood to cause harm.
Click to expand...

I thought this may have been the case as it does seem to occur these days in NSW. It is quite disappointing as they have been very strict with this in the past. I do agree that it should be species specific and there are exceptions for binturong. Also, 20kg may seem light until you have a roudy 20kg lion or tiger play fighting with you. It is a hotly debated topic amongst the zoo community which gets very emotional as some people feel very strongly either way. The reasons for contact are only for the keeper, there are no benefits to the animal that outweigh the risks.

Maybe this is a discussion for another forum thread?
 
The zoo has released an update:
The owner of Shoalhaven Zoo Nicholas Schilko has confirmed that the zookeeper who was injured last week in an incident involving interaction with two young lions is making good progress in her recovery.

Mr Schilko said, “We’re staying in constant touch with our keeper Jen Brown and her family, and are enormously relieved to report that she is recovering from lacerations that she received when visiting the lions' den.”

Mr Schilko stated that the zoo had launched an immediate investigation after the incident occurred to understand how the keeper had been injured and to review its safety and workplace health procedures.

There is also an investigation underway by SafeWork NSW and the matter is being considered by the regulatory body, the Department of Primary Industries NSW.

“The zoo is fully assisting the SafeWork investigation to understand all the facts. We have a small and close-knit team at Shoalhaven Zoo and right now our priority is supporting their safety and wellbeing.

“We’d like to thank our staff, the responding agencies including paramedics and the wider zoo family who have rendered amazing support to the zoo at this time.

“There’s not a huge amount of information that I can add at this stage, as these enquiries are currently underway,” Mr Schilko said.

“I can say that Jen knows these lions, who are 18 months old, very well and has a history of positive interaction with them.

“The keepers who went to her aid indicated that the two young lions showed no aggression, but it’s tragic that this interaction has resulted in serious lacerations to their keeper."

Mr Schilko has confirmed that the lions involved in the incident will not be euthanised, and the care and welfare of all the zoo’s animals remained a top priority.
Click to expand...

Security Check
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top