Decision not to destroy animal that killed 34-year-old Rosa King ‘fully supported’ by family, says Hamerton Zoo Park

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A tiger that killed a keeper at a Cambridgeshire zoo will not be put down, bosses said.

The decision not to destroy the animal has been “fully supported” by the family of Rosa King, who died following the incident at Hamerton Zoo Park last week.

An investigation is continuing into the 34-year-old’s death, which the zoo described as a “freak accident”.

The zoo said on Monday: “After extensive consultation with the staff at the zoo, we have decided not to put down the tiger. This decision has been fully supported by Rosa’s family.

“We are awaiting the findings of the investigation to fully understand what happened before we take further action on this matter. If we receive regulatory or professional guidance to the contrary, we will review our position.”

Following her death, King’s family said she “lived and breathed a vocation that meant the world to her”.

Cambridgeshire constabulary said they were called to Hamerton Zoo Park at 11.15am on 29 May to reports of a serious incident. “A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper. Sadly the female zookeeper died at the scene,” a spokesman said.

The force said it did not believe the incident was suspicious. The tiger was not harmed and a joint investigation with Huntingdonshire district council is continuing.

In July 2013, keeper Sarah McClay died after being mauled by a Sumatran tiger at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria. The zoo was fined £255,000 at Preston crown court in June last year following the 24-year-old employee’s death in May 2013.