Tiger kills New Zealand zoo keeper
A rare white tiger mauled and killed a New Zealand zoo keeper earlier today, local media said.
The attack occurred when two keepers went inside to clean the tiger's cage at the Zion Wildlife Gardens in the city of Whangarei, about 200 km (124 miles) north of Auckland.
The NZ Press Association reported the tiger had grabbed one of the keepers and would not let go despite the efforts of other staff.
The attack was said to have been witnessed by a group of tourists. The wildlife park was closed and the tiger killed.
Police, agriculture and health and safety officials were investigating the attack.
A white tiger at the same park was reported to have been involved in an attack on another keeper earlier this year. The keeper had to have surgery to the knee.
The zoo houses 42 rare lions and tigers and was used as the setting for a reality television programme about its celebrity founder Craig Busch, known as the "Lion Man".
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cathy Wood
May 31st 2009, 14:14
it seem the cats must be missing Mr Busch prehaps they should reinstate him, they never had these problems before, my sympathes goes to Darlu's family.
adele cox
May 28th 2009, 23:25
They have been far too complacent about how dangerous these animals can be.A big health and safety shake up is needed.Mr Busch should be reinstated,there have been several incidents at the park this year since his dismissal.Dalu was a wonderful person-my sympathies to his family.I do not think the tiger aholud have been killed-it was one of a rare species for goodness sake!
EDMOND BALDACCHINO
May 28th 2009, 18:12
this is very sick.....to kill a rare tiger for behave to her natural instincts.....on the bbc news , to make worse , replied on the dead of the tiger as....the animal was destroyed.....as if it was a war tank or whatever......
P_ Attard
May 28th 2009, 11:18
not only did they lock the white tiger in a cage but they killed it for following its instincts....xejn sew e
judith desira
May 28th 2009, 07:20
Its a very sad story for both parties (Tiger & Zoo keeper) but surely if your going in to clean a wild animals cage would'nt it be safer to section the animal before entering ...that way it would have saved both the keeper and the RARE tiger !! common sense
J.Azzopardi
May 27th 2009, 21:25
The beast is killed because if it killed a human being once it would kill again.
Jo Caruana
May 27th 2009, 19:15
Why kill the tiger? I mean god alone knows what the poor animal goes through in that cage. I would have thought the New Zealanders would have had more sense than to kill an animal based on its instinct.
Justin Vella
May 27th 2009, 14:33
Especially the poor zoo keeper who went inside the cage where there was this rare tiger
robert farrugia
May 27th 2009, 11:05
To add insult to the injury it's a RARE white tiger. We human beings are sometimes so ridiculous!!!
Rachel Spiteri
May 27th 2009, 10:39
Why kill the tiger? The tiger is not suppose to be in a cage, bored to death. They should be in the wild where they belong.. I'm sorry for the zoo keeper but it's not fair that the tiger had to put to sleep.