BEAR ATTACKS KEEPER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 10

BEAR ATTACKS KEEPER

INJURED MAN SAVED BY BROTHER UNUSUAL INCIDENT AT THE AUCKLAND ZOO (PAESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, February 2. Attacked by a 10-yeaf-old black bear at the Auckland Zoo this morning, a keeper suffered severe lacerations to the left leg. The injured man W. Hawke, of Grey Lynn, was carrying out the daily cleaning of the black bear pit when the animal attacked him without warning, gripping him behind a knee with its teeth. , The bear is a member of a species common in America. It was born at the zoo 10 years ago and at no time since then had it ever shown signs of viciousness. It was held in such trust, in fact, that it was allowed to roam loose m the pit while cleaning was carried out. Un the other hand, the second occupant of the pit, a bear newly arr:ved from California, was not sufficiently well known to the keepers to be trusted in such a way and it was locked up each time they entered the pit. . T Vith no cause to suspect that the zoo-born bear was anything but docile, Hawke entered the pit this morning in company with his brother, Alan Hawke, who is also a keeper. Apparently the animal had the traditional bear’s ‘‘sore head and was “out of sorts for the time being for it turned suddenly on the keeper and its sharp fangs tore into the flesh of his leg. It was an extremely painful surprise for Hawke. His brother came quickly to his assistance and drove the bear away. Then he helped the injured man to climb out of the pit. By the time he reached the top of the ladder Hawke was faint from loss of blood. . Medical attention was immediately given while the arrival of an ambulance was awaited. Hawke was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where his condition this afternoon was satisfactory. Accidents of this kind in zoological gardens are extremely rare. It is believed, indeed, that never before has a keeper at the Auckland Zoo been attacked in such a way by any animal. In Ye'lowstone Park, United States, the black bear roams wild in forest' preservations and is a constant attraction to the tourist.