Emergency services were called to the zoo, which is 127km south of New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, on Sunday morning

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A female zookeeper has been attacked and killed by a tiger at a busy New Zealand zoo.



Emergency services were called to the Hamilton zoo, 127km south of Auckland on Sunday morning and police have confirmed the woman died at the scene.

Hamilton Zoo (@HamiltonZooNZ) We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of a female staff member today after an attack by one of the zoo’s Sumatran tigers. (1-2)

“This is a tragic incident,” Senior Sergeant Juliet Burgess says.



“It is too early to determine exactly what’s happened.”



The tiger attacked the woman while the enclosure was being cleaned, according to media reports.



Zoo visitor Adam Rich told The New Zealand Herald newspaper he saw the tigers Sunday morning and noticed a female zookeeper opening up a gate to allow them access to an outdoor enclosure.

He said about 45 minutes to one hour later, zoo staff approached him and asked him to leave. He said they were offering everyone a refund.

“They seemed a bit panicky,” he told the newspaper. “I thought an animal had escaped but they guaranteed that an animal did not escape.”

Police are working with the zoo and New Zealand government organisation WorkSafe to investigate.



It will be at least another day until the dead woman’s name is released.



Hamilton Zoo (@HamiltonZooNZ) Our focus is on supporting staff and the wider zoo family, and working with relevant agencies on investigations which are underway. (2-2)

Council spokesman Jeff Neems said the tiger that attacked the woman is named Oz and is the zoo’s only adult male tiger.



He said Oz was currently safely contained inside his enclosure. He said he had no comment on whether the animal was likely to be put down.



He said the public was never in danger during the incident and that all animals had remained contained in their enclosures.



“Our focus at this time is on providing the adequate support for our staff and family members who have been affected by this tragic incident,” the council said in a statement, adding that they would not be commenting on what went wrong until all investigations had been completed.

It is not the first time a zookeeper has been fatally attacked in New Zealand.



In 2012, a woman was killed by an agitated elephant at Franklin zoo and wildlife sanctuary, south of Auckland.



In 2009, a South African zookeeper at Zion wildlife gardens was mauled and killed by a white tiger.