Tigers are among the most magnificent animals on earth. They are largely solitary predators of immense strength and beauty that can range over hundreds of miles in the wild, mostly at night. Yet thousands are held in captivity for human enjoyment: there are more in the United States alone than remain in the wild, despite a recent growth in numbers.

An Oxford University study found that a tiger’s zoo enclosure was typically 18,000 times smaller than its natural roaming range. These are giant cats with powerful jaws that can kill prey twice their size, so is it any surprise that there has been a series of tragedies around the world involving incarcerated tigers turning on keepers?

The latest came on Monday at Hamerton Zoo Park,