Hamilton police are investigating an incident in which a trainer was allegedly attacked by an elephant at African Lion Safari in Flamborough on Friday afternoon.
Ornge air ambulance spokesperson Rachel Scott told Global News that a London-based helicopter was called to Safari Road in Cambridge.
“A male in his 30s was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries, landing at approximately 3:20 p.m.,” said Scott.
Police spokesperson Jackie Penman confirmed to Global News that they were called out to the privately owned operation around 2:10 p.m.
Janet Deline, with the Ministry of Labour, said an investigator was dispatched to the site, late Friday afternoon.
“Essentially what will happen is our investigators will go out and what they’re looking for is contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” Deline told Global News, “What they do is speak to any witnesses, supervisors, the employer, anyone that may have information on what happened.”
Deline went on to say a case in which the ministry needs to conduct an investigation for an injury at an animal park, is actually rare.
“I’ve been here for about five years and this is the first animal-related one.”
African Lion Safari is a drive-through Wildlife Park, west of Hamilton, which opened in 1969.
It encompasses 750 acres with bush, grasslands or forest, and boasts over 1,000 exotic birds and animals that roam freely throughout seven game reserves.