Tiger Kills New Zealand Zookeeper

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted May 27, 2009 3:43 AM CDT
Tiger Kills New Zealand Zookeeper
A sign marks the entrance to the Zion Wildlife Gardens at Whangarei on New Zealand's North Island, where a tiger killed an animal handler today.   (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Michael Cunningham)

A rare white tiger mauled a New Zealand zookeeper to death today in front of stunned visitors as the man entered the animal's enclosure for cleaning, reports the Times of London. The victim just months ago fought off an attack by the same tiger at the wildlife park to save a colleague. This time, his partner beat the tiger with a fire extinguisher, but the big cat refused to let go. The man died on the scene and the tiger was shot.
(More tiger stories.)

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