Brown bear attacked a zoo keeper in the Far East of Russia

An experienced keeper and passionate animal activist Vera Blishch was attacked earlier this morning as she instructed a new member of the Ussuriysk municipal Zoo. 

She reportedly was hit by one of the bear’s paws as she stood close to a cage. 

The woman was rushed to hospital with an open fracture and a scalping injury. 

Another version is that the keeper had to have her leg amputated as a result of the attack. 

Park workers have reportedly confirmed to UssurMedia that the woman lost her leg to the knee. 

An experienced keeper and passionate animal activist Vera Blishch was attacked earlier this morning as she instructed a new member of the Ussuriysk municipal Zoo. Pictures: VL.ru

‘The attack happened 9.30 in the morning. A zoo keeper was instructing a new member of staff and went too close to a cage. A bear struck with its paw, causing an open fracture and a scalping injury’, said chief doctor of Ussuriyak emergency ambulance Alexander Fedyaikin. 

Vera Blishch has spent years of her life working with brown bears. 

In 2015 flood she was one of the zoo workers who stayed neck high in water, doing everything to rescue caged animals as water was rising inside cages. 

There were no visitors at the zoo which works daily from 10 till 18.30.

Vera Blishch pictured back in 2015 as she leads zoo animals rescue operation. Picture: Vesti Rossiya TV