A female zookeeper was killed Monday by a tiger that entered an enclosure with her at a wildlife park in Britain, authorities said.
May 29 (UPI) — A female zookeeper was killed Monday by a tiger that entered an enclosure with her at a wildlife park in Britain, authorities said.
Hamerton Zoo Park was evacuated after what it called a « freak accident. » At no point did the tiger escape its enclosure, the zoo and police said.
« A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper, » Cambridgeshire Police said . « Sadly the female zoo keeper died at the scene. »
The zookeeper’s name was not released by the zoo or police .
« We are sorry but our staff are too distressed to speak directly to the media, as one of our colleagues was killed at Hamerton Zoo Park this morning, » the zoo said on its website .
« This appears to have been a freak accident. All our thoughts and sympathies are with our colleagues friends and families at this dreadful time. »
The zoo and police said an investigation is underway. The park will be closed on Tuesday.
« The incident is not believed to be suspicious, » Cambridgeshire Police said.
Hamerton Zoo Park, in the hamlet of Steeple Gidding near Cambridge, has housed tigers since 2001. It includes enclosures for Malaysian and Bengal big cats in its Land of the Tiger exhibit.
Another zoo exhibit, Cheetah Country, opened in 1998.
In October 2008 a cheetah that escaped from the park was found by a 9-year-old boy in the back garden of his family home.
