Model savaged by leopard at home for show animals
A MODEL has been scarred for life by a leopard that mauled her at a German retirement home for show animals.
Jessica Leidolph, who is also an animal rights activist and physiotherapist, was critically injured when 16-year-old Troja pounced on her as she posed in the big cat’s enclosure.
The 36-year-old lost consciousness but came round during her journey to hospital by air ambulance.
She had immediate surgery on severely bleeding wounds after the attack in Nebra, Saxony-Anhalt.
The model, from Thuringia, told Bild newspaper: ‘It repeatedly kept biting my cheek, ear and head.’
Troja once appeared in adverts for Panasonic plasma TVs with her fellow leopard Paris, 18.
The pair now share an enclosure at the Seniorenresidenz fur Showtiere (retirement home for show animals).
A news alert that the leopard had escaped and was on the run proved to be false. But Burgenland District spokesperson Steven Muller-Uhrig reassured locals, saying: ‘The animal never broke out.’
The 135 animals living at the home are often booked for photoshoots by companies and interested individuals.
It is unclear whether Ms Leidolph was there for a paid engagement. Police said they are investigating who else was at the photoshoot and what safety measures were taken. Keeping leopards does not require a specific permit in Saxony-Anhalt. But the home’s owner Birgit Stache has a licence to run it that may now be at risk. The 48-yearold, who has been an animal trainer for 20 years, is also being investigated along with other keepers on suspicion of negligent bodily harm.