Öland’s zoo is being prosecuted by the Work Environment Agency

The Work Environment Agency is filing charges against Öland’s zoo after the fatal accident at the end of August when a zookeeper died after being mauled by an eland antelope, reports SVT Småland.

“We believe that a punishable violation of the work environment legislation cannot be ruled out,” writes Pernilla Hansson, a lawyer at the Swedish Work Environment Authority, in an email to SVT.

A preliminary investigation regarding suspected work environment violations is already underway. Prosecutor Jan Olin has previously stated that a charge sheet from the Swedish Work Environment Agency could be essential to the investigation.

According to Kristina Falk Strand, chief prosecutor at the National Unit for Environmental and Work Environment Cases (Rema), the prosecutor usually waits for the Work Environment Agency’s assessment.

The accident occurred when the animals were to be brought in for the evening. An ostrich came running at high speed, followed by an eland antelope. In the situation that arose, the zookeeper was barred.