This account centers on a fatal incident at a wildlife facility where a worker was killed while cleaning the tiger sanctuary at Terra Natura. The court sentenced three defendants to six months in prison for the fatal accident, noting that safety training had been offered but judged the overall training regime to be unsafe and unsystematic. The verdict found that two workers were needed to perform cleaning tasks and disinfection of large-cat enclosures, yet these duties were handled by a single employee on the shift. The case was reported by Benidorm’s number three criminal court two days after the events, with all three defendants pleading guilty and the park management accepting responsibility for the facts.
The trio involved Jose Alberto Gaforio, the Terra Natura manager; a coach and animal district manager; and a park rangers coordinator. All three admitted charges of manslaughter in conjunction with violations of workers’ rights. They were sentenced to six months in prison, with the judge suspending the sentence on the condition that none of them commit another crime within two years. Terra Natura and its insurer were named secondary legal liable entities, meaning they would face compensations totaling about 400,000 euros directed to the deceased worker’s family, including his two-year-old son. At the hearing, a private prosecution was filed through attorney Isabel Salazar on behalf of the victim’s family.
The events occurred on July 2, 2016. The victim, Ainhoa P., was alone while performing housekeeping duties at the Terra Natura tiger sanctuary. A power door on the cage allegedly opened for unknown reasons, allowing a tiger to attack the worker through the central corridor entry. The injuries led to massive blood loss and ultimately the worker’s death.
dangerous activity
The court found that the danger arising from the activity would not have been properly mitigated without adequate knowledge and training. This involved a systematic failure to implement preventive measures in the working procedures for cleaning tasks involving large cats. The defendants did not correct this deficiency, leaving workers without the necessary care and safety measures. The ruling described clearly insufficient preventive steps and noted that the lack of trained staff contributed to the risk faced by personnel.
The verdict noted that the victim had served as a park caretaker since 2005 and had held a mix of permanent and temporary contracts, the latest dating from June 1, 2016. Since 2005, the worker had received only a total of three and a half hours of occupational-hazard training related to working with animals. The record showed two hours of training in 2012 on general and specific risks of the caregiver position, another two hours on animal handling in 2015, and a drill in December 2015 covering self-protection and evacuation procedures. The decision highlighted that no such training was reflected in the information provided by carers who were considered experts in the park’s operating procedures and safety protocols.
Responsibility of the three defendants
The ruling established Terra Natura’s manager as responsible for ensuring that workers receive adequate information and training and for guaranteeing the enforcement of safety measures. The person in charge of the animal area was deemed to hold responsibility for providing risk information to workers and verifying that they had received appropriate training and that preventive measures and safety protocols were in place. The veterinarian was found accountable for complying with the park’s protocols and for supervising risk prevention and safety compliance by the caregivers in the veterinary area. The decision signaled that insufficient training permeated the park’s operations and affected its employees. The Labor Inspectorate also identified serious violations of the Occupational Risk Prevention Act.
The verdict is final as to the individuals involved. There is no available remedy unless eligibility requirements are met. This outcome underscores the need for robust safety practices in facilities housing large carnivores and the accountability of management to safeguard workers. The case remains a reference point for safety oversight in similar venues and a reminder of the consequences of inadequate training and risk prevention.