Tiger kills keeper at Hamilton Zoo

A female zookeeper was killed in an attack by a tiger in New Zealand, according to the authorities, who have begun an investigation into the incident.

Police said they were called to the Hamilton Zoo at 11 a.m. after reports a female zookeeper had been attacked by one of the zoo’s five tigers.

The zoo has been closed following the incident and everyone has been asked to leave. “It is too early to determine exactly what’s happened”.

It’s not the first time a zookeeper has been fatally attacked in New Zealand.

The zoo has three Sumatran tigers, including male Jaka and females Mencari and Molek, which arrived at the Hamilton Zoo in 2001, a year after staff opened the exhibit.

It is understood she was cleaning out a cage at the time.

A spokesperson for the zoo says there is no comment to make at this time.

The cubs’ father Oz is housed in a neighbouring enclosure and the cubs and the tiger family can often be seen relaxing near each other.

David Rowe arrives at Hamilton Zoo with flowers on Sunday after hearing about the attack.

Visitor Dave Rich was at the zoo on Sunday when he said he was rushed out by keepers.

“All I’m aware of this, we got a job sent to us from the ambulance to assist in any way we can”.

He said he had not heard who was killed, but he had strong suspicions.

Oz moved from Auckland Zoo to Hamilton Zoo for breeding in 2013.

People have posted messages of support on Facebook and Twitter, in the aftermath of the incident.

Sumatran tigers are considered critically endangered, with less than 400 of the tiger subspecies still living in the wild on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.