Keeper dies in mishap at park

BOGOR (JP): A keeper at the Wildlife Safari Park in Cisarua here died of a cerebral hemorrhage Thursday after an on-the-job fall Tuesday, an executive of the park said yesterday.

Usep Mulyana, 29, was treated at three hospitals in Bogor but died at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Jakarta, according to Toni Sumampauw, a co-owner of the park.

Usep and five fellow animal keepers were trying to remove two young hippopotamuses from their mother's cage when the accident occurred.

"The hippos' mother is going to give birth soon," he told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

As they tried to guide the hippos along a steep and slippery floor, one of the animals slipped and fell against the wood panels used by the employees as herding tools.

"The wood panels are always used by the employees to lead the hippos out from a cage," Toni explained.

Unfortunately, Usep fell headfirst onto the cage's floor.

"He collapsed immediately after the incident but regained consciousness for a while and complained about the pain in his back and head."

After being admitted to the park's clinic, Karya Bhakti Hospital and the Indonesian Red Cross Hospital here, Usep was rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo, some 70 kilometers away.

Toni said Usep was knowledgeable in handling the animals.

"He had undergone training in the Czech Republic."

Usep was buried in his nearby hometown of Pangalengan yesterday morning. (24/ivy)