Woman critical after elephant attack at Sydney zoo

A file photo taken on July 4, 201 shows Bangkok street elephants ‘Thong Dee’ (L) and ‘Pak Boon’ (R), who arrived from Thailand in 2006, during birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on July 4, 2011. A female keeper was rushed to hospital in a critical condition on October 19, 2012 after being pinned against a bollard by an elephant at the Zoo. The zoo said the woman was conducting a routine training session when “a young male elephant pinned the female keeper against a bollard” AFP

Sydney — A female keeper was rushed to hospital in a critical condition Friday after being pinned against a bollard by an elephant at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, authorities said.

An ambulance spokeswoman said emergency services were called to the elephant enclosure on Friday morning and discovered a woman unconscious and not breathing, with multiple injuries.
“We had a report that a female in her 40s had been injured by an elephant,” the spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse.
“She had critical injuries, multiple injuries. The patient was unconscious and had stopped breathing.”

The zoo said the woman was conducting a routine training session when “a young male elephant pinned the female keeper against a bollard”.

“Two other keepers in an adjoining stall responded to her call and moved the elephant away,” it said.

“An investigation has been immediately commenced into this incident and what may have prompted the reaction.

“It’s unknown at this time why the young elephant challenged the keeper,” the zoo added.