Caretaker is left ‘seriously injured’ after being mauled by an escaped PANDA in staff corridor at a Belgian zoo
- Tian Bao mauled his caretaker with bites to the arms and legs
- The victim was rushed to hospital with serious, but not life threatening, injuries
- An investigation into how Tian Bao reached a staff corridor is underway
- The four-year-old was the first giant panda to be born in the Belgium in 2016
A giant panda housed in a Belgian zoo attacked one of its caretakers, leaving the attendant with serious injuries on Saturday.
Tian Bao managed to escape from his enclosure and access a staff corridor where he came face to face with his caretakers, and attacked them.
The caretakers were able to restrain the four-year-old giant panda and rescue the victim who was taken to hospital with severe injuries caused by bites to the arms and legs.
Though seriously injured, the unidentified attendant’s life is not believed to be in danger.
Giant panda, Tian Bao (pictured), housed in a Belgian zoo attacked one of its caretakers, leaving the attendant with serious injuries on Saturday
Robin is a panda keeper at Pairi Daiza who was working at the zoo when Tian Bao (pictured) was born in June 2016. It remains unclear if he was involved with or present at Saturday’s attack
The victim had worked at Pairi Daiza for several years and was familiar with the safety precautions.
No visitors were hurt in the attack because it took place in a staff-only corridor.
The four-year-old giant panda lives in Pairi Daiza, a privately owned zoo and botanical gardens in Brugellete, in the western Belgian province of Hainaut.
He was the first giant panda to be born in Belgium.
Tian Bao (pictured) lives in Pairi Daiza, a privately owned zoo and botanical gardens in Brugellete, in the western Belgian province of Hainaut
How Tian Bao escaped and accessed a staff area of the zoo remains unclear and is being investigated, the Brussels Times reported.
Zoo spokesperson Mathieu Goedefroy told De Standaard: ‘What is certain is that the panda should never have been allowed in that room’.
This is the first such attack to take place at the Pairi Daiza.
Under zoo safety protocol, contact between humans and giant pandas is forbidden after the animals turn two years old, or weigh 70kg.
Giant pandas are generally solitary animals and spend up to 14 hours each day feeding on bamboo, which makes up 99 per cent of their diet.
Tian Bao was born in Pairi Daiza on June 2, 2016, and was the first giant panda to be born in the European country.
The four-year-old is expected to be sent to China after his fifth birthday this year, with departure scheduled before the end of the year.
It was not immediately clear if this attack will see Tian Bao sent to China earlier.
Giant pandas such as Tian Bao (pictured) are generally solitary animals and spend up to 14 hours each day feeding on bamboo, which makes up 99 per cent of their diet
The four-year-old (pictured) is expected to be sent to China after his fifth birthday this year, with departure scheduled before the end of the year