THE shocking moment a zookeeper was mauled and eaten alive by a tiger he had raised since it was a cub at a Chinese zoo has been captured on video.

The employee, with the surname Wu, was with the tiger inside the large metal cage used for training exercises and circus performances when the big cat attacked.

3 The tiger stands over the zookeeper in the cage Credit: AsiaWire

An official with the Fuzhou City Government in East China's Fujian Province said the cat "suddenly bit onto and suffocated him to death."

The statement said Wu, who worked for the Fuzhou Zoo, had raised the tiger since it was a cub, and that it had been domesticated through long-term interaction with humans.

Officials described the tiger as "usually quite docile".

Horrific footage taken by witnesses shows the cat standing over the lifeless trainer's body inside the cage, with someone yelling: "Call the police!"

3 The zookeeper lies lifeless in the cage as staff members push the tiger away with a stick Credit: AsiaWire

3 The tiger bows and appears to maul at the zookeeper Credit: AsiaWire

In another clip, blurred by Chinese media, the tiger appears to claw at the handler while other staff members frantically try driving the animal away from the man using a stick.

Staff gained access to the victim, but there were no signs of life and he was declared dead by paramedics.

Fuzhou Zoo said the animal used to perform for visitors as part of an event outsourced to a circus from East China's Anhui Province.

The shows had already been stopped prior to the incident, with all its lions already shipped away but the tigers are still awaiting approval to be moved.

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Last year a zoo caretaker was mauled to death by two white tiger cubs in southern Indian, just a week after he had taken the job.

The cubs launched the surprise attack when Anjaneya went into the animal's enclosure to feed them their evening meal.

Married dad-of-two Anjaneya reportedly had no experience in handling the animals.

Suddenly, one of the tigers jumped and pounced on Anji, biting his neck, before dragging him into the safari area. The other cub later joined in.

The tigers were driven off but the keeper was already dead.

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Aniam