An Elephant killed a zookeeper in a violent attack in Springfield, Missouri Friday morning, Missouri zoo officials confirmed same day.
A 62-year-old veteran zookeeper was killed by a rampaging elephant in Dickerson Park Zoo. The worker, identified as John Bradford, was reportedly taking care of four elephants when one, a 41-year-old female pachyderm named Patience, mercilessly charged at him.
Spokeswoman for Springfield Cora Scott said the veteran zookeeper was accompanied by other employees during the time of the incident, but no other person was involved or injured.
Bradford was said to have been working for the Dickerson Park Zoo for over 30 years.
According to Ky3.com, the female elephant was said to display behavioral issues for quite some time now, but nothing remotely close to attacking a worker has been recorded in the past.
New York Daily News reported that healthcare professionals where quick to respond to the scene, but the zookeeper already showed signs of debilitation and had died several minutes close to an hour later.
"This is a very sad day for the zoo family, as well as our community as a whole," said Zoo Director Mike Crocker.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration online database has recorded 13 incidents of zookeepers being injured by elephants since 1984. Ten of the said figure was reportedly fatal, but no incident was recorded involving the Dickerson Park Zoo thus far.
A 2007 Time report stated more than 500 are killed worldwide due to elephant attacks annually.
Zoo officials said Friday that the zoo was fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1986.
Early this month, tragedy struck the animal sanctuary when one of the five elephants died.
As of late, Dickerson Zoo remains open and will continue its operations amid Bradford's death, zoo officials said.
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