VARYSBURG, NY (WIVB) – A safari park owner was killed after being trampled by an animal. According to the authorities, Hans Boxler Sr., the owner of Hidden Valley Animal Adventures, was killed by an antelope that escaped its pen.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s office said the cause of death is from multiple blunt force injuries.
On Monday, around 12:30 a.m., Wyoming County 911 Dispatch received a call from a family member that Boxler was injured after apparently being trampled. Officers and EMS workers responded and determined that Boxler had succumbed to his injuries. The Wyoming County Coroner was called out.
Officials says a Nilgai Antelope somehow escaped its pen when Boxler was feeding animals in a fenced laneway, and was then subsequently trampled by the animal.
Family members located the animal in question near its pen, and secured it. That’s when family members started looking for Boxler after not returning home during his normal time. The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office said the animal never escaped its confinement, only the pen.
The Boxler family released a statement. A portion of the statement said, “Han’s lifelong passion was to farm and work with animals. He wanted to share his passion for God’s animals with others which encouraged him to create his own Noah’s Ark at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure.”
The statement added, “Hans was a very successful dairy farmer, and was well respected throughout the community.”
Hidden Valley Animal Adventure will be closed Monday, July 25 through Wednesday, July 27, and will reopen on Thursday, July 28.