Komang Resi Yasa, an employee at Bali Safari and Marine Park in Gianyar Regency, Bali, was tragically killed by an elephant. He was a dedicated elephant keeper at the park, known for his passion and commitment to the animals.
The elephant, allegedly named Gandi, acted aggressively. The Bali Safari keeper, who was the victim, did not have time to save himself and was attacked many times by the rampaging elephant.
As reported by Antara, Bali Safari management opened its voice regarding the incident of an elephant attacking a mahout/guard named Komang Resi Yasa to death.
Taman Safari Indonesia Group SVP Marketing Alexander Zulkarnain said Komang Resi died due to a work accident.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and all those who knew him. Taman Safari Bali will continue to provide support to the family during this time of mourning,” he said.
Alexander explained that the incident that caused one of the employees to be attacked by an elephant occurred during his duties when he was interacting with the elephant.
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He also said Taman Safari strictly upholds work safety standards and strict operational procedures in handling animals.
“Our Mahouts have undergone the necessary training and work in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that have been established, including in their duties interacting with elephants. The SOPs we implement aim to ensure the safety of our employees and the animals we care for,” he said.
BKSDA temporarily closes elephant attraction at Bali Safari Park
The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has temporarily closed Bali Safari and Marine Park’s elephant attraction for tourists.
The closure comes after a 30-year-old male elephant named Gandi attacked his handler, I Komang Resi Yasa on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
The attraction will be temporarily closed to investigate the cause of Gandi’s rampage and evaluate animal welfare and handler work safety standards at Bali Safarine and Marine Park.
The attraction will be opened pending further instructions from the Bali BKSDA.
As reported by Kumparan, Bali BKSDA Head Ratna Hendratmoko said, “We will evaluate the welfare of animals in conservation institutions in Bali with this incident. ”
Occupational risks of zookeeping
Zookeeping is a profession that rarely crosses people’s minds. In fact, a zookeeper has a big responsibility and a high risk for the animals they care for and guard.
Apart from being in charge of looking after the animals in the zoo, there are several responsibilities that a zookeeper has, including:
- Feeding the animals.
- Giving medicines and vitamins to keep the animals healthy.
- Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures.
- Reporting any unusual changes in animal behaviour to the manager or veterinarian.
- Assist with veterinary procedures.
- Assist in the care and rearing of baby animals.
- Keeping the animals in a stress-free condition.
That’s a little information about zookeeper salaries and some of their responsibilities that many people don’t know about.
