Pack of eight wolves maul woman keeper to death at Sweden's most popular zoo

• 30-year-old keeper had entered wolf enclosure alone
• Wolf enclosure is popular draw as visitors can enter and pet the animals
• Emergency Services could not enter to rescue woman for fear of being attacked themselves
• Woman died of her injuries and body was recovered after staff managed to push wolves back

By Amy Oliver
PUBLISHED: 17 June 2012
A female keeper was today mauled to death by a pack of eight wolves at a popular Swedish zoo, police said.
The 30-year-old woman had entered the wolf enclosure at Kolmarden park, in the Ostergotland district, alone at about 11am when the deadly incident happened.
Emergency services could not enter the enclosure while the woman was being mauled for fear of being attacked themselves. 

Attack: The 30-year-old woman had entered the wolf enclosure at Kolmarden park, in the Ostergotland district, alone at about 11am when the deadly incident happened (file picture)

Emergency services co-ordinator, Jan Tengeborg, told Aftonbladet newspaper: 'You can’t just go in to a pack of wolves. Police and ambulance staff couldn’t get close to the victim until later.'


It is not yet clear what provoked the animals to attack and zoo staff said there were no eyewitnesses.
The wolf enclosure is a big attraction at the zoo due to visitors being allowed into the area to pet the animals.

Popular: The wolf enclosure at the park is a popular draw as visitors can enter and pet the animals

Witnesses: It is understood there were no eyewitnesses who saw the attack at the park, outside Norrkoping

The woman's body was recovered after rescue workers and park staff entered the enclosure.
They managed to force the animals back while an armed park official stood by to shoot the wolves in case they attacked again, according to local reports.
A police spokesman for the Ostergotland district, said: 'She was so badly hurt in the attack that she died of her injuries.
'We do not know why they attacked.' 

Shock: Zoological director Mats Hoggren, left, and MD Mats Olsson, sitting, answer questions following the incident. It is not yet clear what provoked the wolves to attack

Police remained at the scene to investigate the incident at the biggest wildlife park in the Nordic region, located around 93 miles south of Stockholm.
Wolf expert Olof Lidberg, told Swedish press agency TT: 'Such an event is very rare, but it can happen. Animals living in zoos aren't afraid of humans and accidents can happen.'
Kolmarden, founded in 1965, is one of the most popular attractions in Sweden, with more than 500,000 visitors a year. 

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