BIG CAT KILLS KEEPER - Lion Park tragedy

Horrified tourists could only watch as a Zion Wildlife Gardens keeper tried to save a fellow keeper from a fatal attack by a rare white tiger.
Two keepers had gone into the tigers' enclosure to clean it at 11am yesterday when one of the big cats attacked keeper Dalu Mncube.
A second keeper tried to use a length of wood to beat the tiger off the stricken man until another staff member was able to shoot the big cat.
The Northern Advocate understands that, once staff had taken the man from the enclosure to get medical help, a member returned to the cage and shot the tiger a second time.
The second keeper was uninjured.
Mr Mncube died at the park from head and body injuries received in the few short moments the attack lasted. A post mortem is being held today.
Eight visitors, most of them from overseas, were touring the park at the time, some of whom witnessed the attack.
Several hours later, the first of those visitors - a visibly shocked man and two sari-clad women - were allowed to leave the park.
"I was right there," the man said as he was leaving the scene.
"It happened right in front of us. I'm sorry, I can't really talk about it. It was very, very frightening ..."
The man said he was from Auckland and had been showing relatives from overseas around. He said they would return to Auckland immediately.
All the tourists spent several hours giving their statements to police and receiving victim support until they were able to leave. Outside the gates, a stream of arrivals were ushered in, including police, Department of Labour, a funeral director, coroner Brandt Shortland and Victim Support counsellors.
Park staff could be seen comforting each other inside the security-fenced area beyond the stark entry to the wildlife attraction. There were emotional scenes as supporters of the staff and park arrived and were allowed inside.
A Zion staff member tied a rope across the entry, hung with a sign which read: "Park closed until further notice".
Communications manager Sara Reid said she hoped the media and public would respect the privacy and feelings of the man's family and Zion staff. The focus would now be on supporting those people, she said.
A neighbour of the park said the death hammered home the reality that they were living next door to dangerous animals.
"It's quite alarming. We are all families up this road and we are aware we have lions and tigers living next to us. Up until now it's been a happy existence," she said.
She said initially residents had not been happy about the park's establishment, but over time most had become used to the roaring of lions on a daily basis.
"It's an unusual 'normal', but for us hearing lions is as normal as hearing sheep or cows."
Park operator Glen Holland said it was an incredibly sad day for the park.
"Staff are absolutely devastated that a fantastic person and friend has been died."