Animal park worker gored to death by an eland, the world's largest antelope
Stockholm — An employee of an animal park in southwestern Sweden was gored to death by a large antelope, the attraction's owner said Monday. Richard Berglund told reporters that he witnessed the incident involving an eland as he was helping the victim take the animals into stables after the park had closed. He didn't give details.
"It was a friend... we're all grieving," Berglund said.
The goring happened late Sunday at the Oland Animal and Entertainment Park on the southwestern island of Oland. Police said the case is being considered a "workplace accident," which is standard procedure.
It was not known precisely what happened inside the enclosure. The identity and citizenship of the deceased employee was not given.
There are two species of eland, both native to southern Africa, with the giant variety listed as the largest antelope species in the world. It was not immediately clear if the animal that killed the man at the park in Sweden was a giant eland, or of the slightly smaller common eland species, which can still reach heights of almost 6 feet at the shoulder and weigh over 2,000 pounds.
As of Monday, the park had closed for the season, according to its website.