A rhino has killed a zookeeper and seriously injured her colleague, police in Austria have said.

The attack happened at Hellbrunn Zoo in the western city of Salzburg at around 7am.

The 33-year-old zookeeper was attacked by the animal “for reasons that are still unknown” during routine work in the rhino enclosure, Salzburg police said in a statement.

“The woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the accident,” a police spokesperson added.

Her 34-year-old colleague was attacked by the rhino as he tried to scare it away.

He was flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment, Salzburg24 reported. His condition is not life-threatening.

Read more world news:
Passengers taken hostage accuse UK government of ‘years of cover-up’
Trudeau stranded in India after his plane suffers ‘technical issues’

The rhino believed to have attacked the staff is a 30-year-old female called Yeti, according to the news website, and has lived at the zoo since 2009.

The zookeeper who suffered fatal injuries to her chest was German, from the state of Bavaria, and was described as very experienced.

“She was very careful and thoughtful with the animals and she had an extremely good feel for animals,” the zoo’s director, Sabine Grebner, told a news conference.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The incident happened during the morning rounds in which the animals are fed and treated with insect repellent, she said.

“We do not know exactly how it happened,” she said.

All the rhinos at the zoo have been there a long time and are cooperative with their keepers, she added.

The incident is being investigated, and a message on the zoo’s website and Facebook page said it would remain closed on Tuesday.

Related posts:

UK security outlook more dangerous now than at any time in past 30 years, warns new head of armed forces European diplomats remain nervous as talks over Ukraine depend on ‘Russians backing down’ ‘Can you call this a life?’: Bittersweet victory in Lyman as battle has come at a significant cost to civilians Father who helped son over line in iconic Olympic moment dies aged 81 Miss Universe crowns first Filipino American winner Capture of ‘last godfather’ after 30-year hunt could end ‘mafia myth’ Former Newcastle United star still missing over a week after Turkey earthquake Where is Alexander Lukashenko? Russia refuses to comment on Putin ally’s health Countries file torture complaint against Syria over ‘unlawful killing’ of thousands of civilians Dad killed by rubble that hit his head as he tried to protect son in Morocco quake How earthquake rescuers will be working as ‘golden period’ for survival ticks by ‘I can see his body through the ruins’: Inside the Moroccan tourist town that’s ‘expecting 2,000 dead’