Zookeeper attacked by rhino at Whipsnade zoo Dave Tamarro, of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: "When we arrived it was clear that the patient had received a number of injuries, including injuries to the chest, abdomen and pelvis. We stabilised the patient whilst the air ambulance was on its way. Both trust staff and the Magpas air ambulance crew worked well together to treat the patient, who was then taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital by land ambulance in a serious condition. The man is in a serious but stable condition and his injuries are thought not to be life-threatening, a spokeswoman for Magpas air ambulance added. He was later operated on and remained in a stable condition. The spokeswoman said that the man had been "immersed in water" during the incident and was given enhanced pain relief at the scene. She said: "He was helped out of the water by staff at the zoo. The Magpas team assessed the patient, who suffered serious injuries, and put measures into place to keep him warm as his body temperature had dropped considerably. The Zoological Society of London, which runs Whipsnade as well as London Zoo, confirmed the incident and said officials were investigating exactly what happened. Central Bedforshire Council, which licenses the zoo, and the Health and Safety Executive, are also investigating. A ZSL spokesman said: "We can confirm that at approximately at 8.15am today [Wednesday], one of our senior zookeepers was found injured within the Asian rhino enclosure. Procedures were immediately followed to secure the scene and emergency services called. The keeper was treated at the scene by paramedics and was taken to Adenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for further care. The incident is currently being investigated and no further details are available at this time. David Field, zoological director at the zoo, said: "An investigation into exactly what happened has begun. [The keeper's] family and ZSL staff are with him at the hospital where he being well looked-after. He added later: "He is now out of surgery and doctors have described his condition as stable." He refused to answer any further questions about the incident. The zoo's website says that it is home to Nepalese one-horned rhinos, described as "armour-plated." The £1m Rhinos of Nepal exhibit has indoor heated pools to allow the greater one-horned rhinoceros to wallow in muddy water all year round. Five adult rhinos, three male and two female, are kept in the Asian rhino enclosure. Animal charity PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the incident was "100 per cent preventable if we stop treating wild animals like living props" and showed that rhinos "are not suited at all for a life in captivity." A statement said: "Rhinos are enormous, powerful animals with wild instincts, and when they are denied the opportunity to fulfil even their most basic desires, such as selecting a mate, moving about freely and leading a life without constant human domination, it is surely no wonder at all that they develop aggressive and resistant behaviour, suffer from depression or lash out angrily. These deeply deprived and frustrated animals are ticking time-bombs. We need to stop supporting animal prisons and instead protect animals in their natural habitats.