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A zoo worker was mauled by a tiger at Topeka Zoo in Kansas before terrified colleagues managed to coax the animal away with food.

The female keeper suffered head and neck injuries in the attack, which happened at 9.30am local time, as horrified visitors looked on.

An error meant the seven-year-old Sumatran tiger named Sanjiv was able to walk into his enclosure while the victim was inside his habitat.

An investigation has been launched to find out how it happened.

Zoo director Brendan Wiley said: "There was some sort of error that occurred here.

"Some of our staff witnessed some things that you hope you go through a career without witnessing."

(Image: Topeka Zoo/Facebook)

The keeper - who has not been named - is in a stable condition in hospital, officials have confirmed.

Wiley confirmed there are no plans to punish the tiger.

"Sanjiv this morning did exactly what a tiger would when something comes into his territory," he said, adding there

was "absolutely no consideration to euthanize Sanjiv."

After about 10 minutes other staff members were able to lure the tiger into an indoor pen using its food ration, Wiley said.

The zoo was closed for 45 minutes after the attack and its six tigers, including Sanjiv and his four cubs, were kept in their pen.

All the tigers except Sanjiv were later allowed back to the outdoor exhibit area.

It comes shortly after a number of Sumatran tiger cubs were put on display at the tourist attraction.

On March 21 the zoo told followers on Twitter that the four young cubs would be going outside for the first time.

The animal which carried out the attack was a male Samatran tiger named Sanjiv, WIBW reports.

The zoo is not planning to punish the animal - who has been at the zoo since August 2017 - in any way, it is understood.

Zoo official Molly Hadfield said: "Right now we're still evaluating, the tigers are in holding."

She continued: "The zoo was open, we did shut down for 45 minutes.

"A few people did witness the attack."

She said the zoo keeper was "alert and awake" after the attack, and added: "We are back open, our tigers are in a holding cell, but the rest of the zoo is open."

At the time the animal arrived, Topeka Zoo wrote on Facebook: "Sanjiv, a male Sumatran tiger, joined us at the Topeka Zoo this evening as a recommendation from AZA's Species Survival Plan.

"He comes from the Akron Zoo and we're very excited to welcome him to his new home. It will be a little bit before guests are able to see this handsome boy but we will provide you with updates!"