Rhino attack leaves zookeeper seriously hurt

A zookeeper has been flown to Canberra Hospital for treatment after being attacked by a rhino at a Zoo in Australia’s New South Wales State on Wednesday.

The 47-year-old woman was completing routine work at the privately owned Mongo Zoo on the south coast of the state when 10-year-old southern white rhino Kei attacked her, Xinhua news agency reported quoting local media. 

"While all safety measures have been taken to minimise risk for both animals and keepers, occasionally accidents can occur when dealing with large megafauna," zoo owner Sally Padey was quoted as saying.

The zookeeper has suffered a serious left arm injury and investigations into the incident are ongoing, the zoo said in a statement.

The southern white rhino is one of the world’s largest and heaviest land animals, weighing more than two tonnes.