The mother of a zookeeper killed by one of her tigers has paid tribute to her daughter - saying she died doing "what she has always loved".

Rosa King, 33, was mauled to death in a "freak accident" after the animal entered the enclosure she was in.

Those who knew Ms King have described her as a "lovely lady" who was "absolutely passionate" about the animals in her care.

Her mother Andrea King described her dedication to the job, saying: "She wouldn't have done anything else, it's what she has always done, it's what she has always loved."

As well as loving big cats, Ms King also raised funds three years ago for a charity helping bears. Linking to a JustGiving page, she told donors she was going to skydive for Animals Asia.


Garry Chisholm, a wildlife photographer who met Ms King through visiting the Cambridgeshire attraction, said: "Rosa wasn't just a keeper at Hamerton Zoo - she was Hamerton Zoo.

Image: Rosa King with a colleague in costume and one of the zoo's tigers

"She was the absolute central point of it, the focal point of it. She was the shining light of it. It revolved around her.

"She will be greatly missed, not just by me, but by everyone who came to know her."

Pete Davis was at the zoo with his family when he saw workers rushing towards the tiger enclosure.

He said: "I heard a scream, then one of the zookeepers just shouted 'run' to everyone that was there.

"We ran to a nearby room that was three or four metres away with some other people, for about 10 minutes.

"When we came out there was distressed people everywhere - there was a couple (of workers) throwing meat over the enclosure to try and get the tiger to come away.

Image: Rosa King (right) with Sir David Attenborough in 2014

"It had been going on for 10 or 15 minutes then - it was too long."

Police were called to the zoo at 11.15am on Monday to reports of a serious incident, and an air ambulance was at the scene 20 minutes later.

An East of England Ambulance Service paramedic crew and two rapid response vehicles also attended.

Visitors to the attraction were evacuated shortly afterwards.

On Facebook, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the incident is not believed to be suspicious - and stressed that the animal had not escaped from the enclosure at any point.

Jeff Knott, who witnessed the incident, said staff had been a "real credit" to the zoo during the evacuation.

Tiger prowls enclosure after 'freak accident'

He added: "Staff were very calm and professional. All visitors around us were leaving in a very calm manner - no running, shouting or anything similar."

In a statement, Hamerton Zoo Park said public safety was never affected by the "freak accident," adding: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with our colleagues, friends and families at this dreadful time."

The zoo is going to remain closed on Tuesday as investigations continue.

Police said the tiger involved was believed to be fine, after Twitter users expressed fears over what would happen to the animal.

Four years ago, a keeper at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria died after being mauled by a Sumatran tiger.

The zoo was fined £255,000 at Preston Crown Court in June last year following the death of Sarah McClay, who was 24.