German zookeeper seriously injured by camel bite

Worker was cleaning out enclosure and feeding animals when he was attacked at Perleberg Zoo

A zookeeper is in hospital with serious injuries after being bitten by a camel in northern Germany (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A zookeeper is in hospital with serious injuries after being bitten by a camel in northern Germany.

The 54-year-old man was cleaning out the camel enclosure and feeding the animals at Perleberg Zoo on Sunday morning when one turned suddenly and bit him in the face, police said.

The worker, who has not been named, was taken to a local hospital for treatment after sustaining “serious” injuries.

The zoo, located between Berlin and Hamburg, is currently closed under German coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Human injuries caused by camel bites are rare, but such attacks can inflict severe and often fatal wounds. 

Male camels are known to be more aggressive during rutting season.

Additional reporting by agencies