Model attacked by leopard as she enters enclosure in photoshoot gone wrong

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 27

A 36-year-old model was seriously injured by a leopard as she entered the enclosure of two leopards at an animal shelter in eastern Germany during a photoshoot.  

The two animals are identified as Troy and Paris.

Jessica Leidolph, who also works as an animal rights activist, was airlifted to a specialist clinic by a helicopter after the incident on Tuesday at a compound in the town of Nebra in eastern Germany.

The compound is used as a retirement home for show animals, and 16-year-old leopard Troja who lives there, attacked her during the photoshoot. 

German police are now investigating the leopard attack, with a focus on the 48-year-old owner of the big cat, Birgit Stache, who is being investigated on suspicion of negligent bodily harm, the dpa news agency said. 

They are also investigating who else was present at the photoshoot and what safety precautions were taken.

Jessica, who was brought to the hospital with severely bleeding wounds and was immediately operated on, told Bild after the surgery: ‘It repeatedly kept biting my cheek, ear and head.’

She also said that after she had lost consciousness the next thing, she heard was the helicopter that airlifted her to the hospital.