Chile: a zookeeper was killed by a tiger attack

An unfortunate event took place in Chile this friday when a 21-year-old woman died after being attacked by a tiger in a cage at the Rancagua Safari Park where she worked, in the O’higgins region, south of Santiago. The victim’s environment denounced that there was negligence on the part of the place.

The young woman, who worked in the maintenance area, was cleaning the facilities around the cages and did not realize that one of them was open, reported from the Carabineros police force.

The cat, a captive tiger, attacked the woman in the neck, who died a few minutes later. The security personnel of the compound tried to help her, and there was also the intervention of the fire department and emergency medical personnel, who were unable to revive her.

Antonio Rojas, general manager of Parque Safari, said that a rescue car frightened the animal, which returned to its cage, in order to rescue it, although it was too late. In addition, he specified that the episode must have lasted between 10 and 15 minutes in total.

“Nobody expects situations like these to happen and we are immensely affected by what happened. What were the circumstances and conditions that failed is a process that is under investigation “added.

As specified by Rojas, the woman was carrying out “routine cleaning actions” with a colleague and, specifically, her job consisted of cleaning the pebbles from the rails of an electric gate near the lion and tiger premises.

But nevertheless, from the victim’s environment they assure that it would be negligence, while the authorities have already announced investigations and a health summary.

“I know that they sent her to do something she didn’t have to do. If they only clean, ”said a friend of the family, adding that the deceased young woman worked as a tourist guide, but that she was frequently asked to do cleaning work on the premises.

For his part, Leornardo Maluenda, a worker at the Safari Park, pointed out that “negligence was committed” and that the young woman “was not told that the tiger was loose.” “My partner came in to clean up normally. Logically, if they send you to clean an area where there is a tiger, they have to lock up the tiger. She was not warned,” he denounced.

The Investigations Police announced that by order of the Public Ministry they are carrying out registration procedures and taking statements from officials.