KEEPER ATTACKED BY BLACK BEAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 13

KEEPER ATTACKED BY BLACK BEAR

Auckland Zoo Incident MAN’S LEG SEVERELY LACERATED By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 2. Attacked by a 10-year-old black bear at the Auckland Zoo this morning, a keeper suffered severe lacerations to the left leg. The injured man, Mr. W. Hawke, Grey Lynn, was carrying out the usual daily cleaning of the black bear pit when the animal attacked him without warning, gripping him behind the 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 wjis held in such trust, in fact, that it was allowed tp roam loose in the pit while cleaning was carried out. On the other hand, the second occupant of the pit, a bear newly-arrived 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. With no cause to suspect that the Zoo-born bear was anything but its usual docile self, Mr. Hawke entered the pit this morning in company with his brother, Mr. 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 Mr. 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, Mr. W. Hawke was faint from loss of blood. ' Medical attention was immediately given while the arrival of an ambulance was awaited. Mr. 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 Yellowstone Park, United States, the black bear roams wild in forest preservations and is a constant attraction to the tourist.