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Gorilla attacks zookeeper in Spain

A gorilla mauled a 46-year-old zookeeper in Spanish capital Madrid on Sunday, leaving her in serious condition with two broken arms and chest and head injuries.

  (Agence France-Presse)
Madrid, Spain
Mon, September 28, 2020

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Gorilla attacks zookeeper in Spain A silverback mountain gorilla from the Mukiza group is seen in the forest within the Bwindi National Park near the town of Kisoro, Uganda, on March 31, 2018. (REUTERS/Baz Ratner)

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gorilla mauled a 46-year-old zookeeper in Spanish capital Madrid on Sunday, leaving her in serious condition with two broken arms and chest and head injuries, the zoo and emergency services said.

The woman was carrying out routine cleaning and morning feeding tasks when she was attacked by Malabo, a 29-year-old male gorilla, in an interior enclosure, Madrid Zoo said in a statement.

"The zoo team managed to separate the animal from her and later, a veterinary team anaesthetized it with a tranquilizer dart," the statement added.

"The animal was taken to its pen where it is calm."

Read also: Uganda says it has rare gorilla 'baby boom' in park in country's southwest

Police and the zoo said they were investigating how the gorilla was able to enter the enclosure, which is protected with a triple door.

The woman, who has 19 years" experience working at the zoo, was stabilized at the scene before being rushed to hospital where she is in serious condition, local emergency services said in a tweet.

The zoo said Malabo was raised by keepers since birth and is normally "close to his caregivers".

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