Zookeeper killed by wolves in Sweden

(CBS/AP) STOCKHOLM - Reports say a female zookeeper has died after being attacked by wolves in their enclosure in Sweden's largest zoo.

The TT news agency quoted Kolmarden Wildlife Park animal director Mats Hoggren as saying the experienced 30-year-old woman was by herself in the pen when the attack occurred Sunday morning, and that zoo workers often enter the area alone.

The enclosure reportedly contains eight wolves. Park workers first realized that something had gone wrong when their colleague failed to maintain radio contact.

The Aftonbladet daily quoted Hoggren as saying zoo workers and paramedics entered the pen after forming a human chain and arming one person, but it was too late.

According to CNN, the zoo's website described the victim as a long-time employee of the park who had worked with these wolves "since they were born."

Hoggren said there were no witnesses to the attack at the park, which is 90 miles south of Stockholm.

[knewsteerrrrr]

see wolfpark.org for more information about wolves.

[nancy_naive]

Well, new rule. No more putting raw hamburger in your co-workers coat pockets as a practical joke.

[MarieAnne13]

What a truly sad way to go. But, when you work with dangerous animals, you accept the risks. I hope the wolves aren't destroyed; it's not their fault for acting on instinct, and there's enough of a crusade against wolves. In the wild, wolves would never target a human. But, when you remove their natural sources of prey, I guess this is what happens.

[Jessicaa_M]

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/wolves-killed-alaska-teacher-2010-state-says

Tell me again that wolves would never target a human in the wild.

These wolves in the article I have linked were all found to be healthy animals who had access to prey, ie they were not in any way starving. They were, so to speak, fat and happy.

[nohater]

sorry she died in such a way. people always forget that animals are just that animals. even dog owners give their dogs family status but they too turn and attack, sometimes killing. story of family dog here in the USA comes to mind that hit the news not long ago. seems the famil dog, some kind of retriever, attacks an infant killing it and ripping some of its limbs off. the father was at home napping in another room with a young daughter. the mother was out shopping and returned to find her child killed, torn to pieces. even a dog, is just an animal.

[Seraphinna]

" people always forget that animals are just that animals. even dog owners give their dogs family status but they too turn and attack, sometimes killing."

That's a pretty general statement to make. You can't compare domesticated dogs to wild wolves. Yes there are cases of dogs turning on their owners (and a lot to times there are reasons for that) but not ALL dogs turn on their owners. I grew up having pets, both cats and dogs and i've never been attacked. I had a dog going on 10 years and yes she was very much a family member and the best dog i've ever had. She was incredibly intelligent, protective, loyal, and the greatest companion.

People give their pets family status because that's exactly what they are - family. I think any owner who's had a strong connection with their pets would agree.

[ToolMangler1]

You can't blame animals for behaving like 'animals'. "It's the nature of the 'Beast'"...

[knewsteerrrrr]

They were living in an extremely abnormal environment- a ZOO, this goes totally against a wild animal's lifestyle. In the wild wolves RUN from humans, trapped in an enclosure they can't run or escape.

[gottasay2u]

What a horrible way to die. I hope this is the last time I read about someone being mauled to death by vicious animals.

[DeeMills]

There are no "Vicious" animals. Animals don't wake up one day and decide to maul someone. Humans are vicious because we wake up some days and say "I think I am going to capture a wild animal and put it in a cage". That's a premeditated act that is "vicious".

[MaxyRaddy]

This story has to be totally fiction. Wolves are just cute and cuddly and never attack humans, and they only kill what they need to survive. Even Bigfoot knows that.

[endrepubs]

This is NOT a natural habitat for wolves. You can't expect them to be predictable within a Zoo enclosure. These animals need lots of space in the wild. They don't normally attack humans in the wild, so please let these wolves be released into the wild where they belong.

[wlhoppers]

I agree with you up until the point of asking these wolves to be released into the wild. I really don't blame the wolves for the attack - she was stupid to go in there along - but the wolves have been institutionalized so long they probably couldn't make it out in the wild now. And they're habituated to living with/near man, so they'd probably get killed immediately for coming too close to the general population. Sad.

[knewsteerrrrr]

"so please let these wolves be released into the wild where they belong."

ISNT going to happen, there is no "wild" left for wolves, as the experiment in the US has proven now that a couple of states have declared open season on wolves after they were removed in those states from the endangered species list and the first thing hunters did was go out and start shooting in the hopes they can get all of them before the law is changed again.

[garfield3457]

Zoo policy is responsible for this tragedy. Radio contact doesn't get it. NOBODY should ever be permitted to enter an enclosure containing one or especially many predators known to attack humans alone. Animals always calculate the odds before they make a move. This woman alone was easy.

[wlhoppers]

I agree.

[DormanNelson]

Notice she is 'experienced'. All animals have teeth. Humans as well.