Activists: Tiger should not be put down

Oz the Sumatran tiger at Auckland Zoo. Photo / Doug Sherring

The fate of the tiger that killed Hamilton Zoo keeper Sam Kudeweh is unknown, but animal activists are saying the animal should not be put down.

Oz the male Sumatran tiger fatally attacked the experienced senior keeper and mother of two yesterday morning.

Sam Kudeweh with a male Sumatran tiger at Auckland Zoo. Photo / Doug Sherring

It was not yet known how the animal was able to get close enough to harm Mrs Kudeweh, but animal lovers appear adamant Oz should not be euthanised for the incident.

Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs would not be drawn on Oz's fate yesterday.

The tiger was being kept "contained" until investigations by police, the Ministry for Primary Industries and zoo were completed.

The concept of putting Oz down appalled Safe campaign director Hans Kriek.

"It should not be put down ... it's a big predatory animal and the trainer should not have been [accessible to it].

Samantha Kudeweh grew up in Papakura and studied at the University of Auckland. Photo / Supplied

"You can't punish an animal for what it has done.

"The keeper wouldn't have to do anything to ignite an attack like that. It could just happen by her being in the enclosure. They're opportunistic and can pounce and kill extremely quickly ... some won't and [at zoos] are well fed, but they can if they want to.

"I don't think she has done anything wrong in there, but just being in there was the mistake."

Mr Kriek said either the zoo's procedures were not strict enough or not adhered to "because clearly a mistake happened here ... We hope [zoos] learn from it but unfortunately this seems to happen on an all too frequent basis and it's a lethal mix; big predators and human beings. It's key that procedures are followed".

Samantha was fatally attacked by a tiger at Hamilton Zoo yesterday. Photo / Supplied

He said Safe was against wild animals being kept in enclosures anyway, but added it wasn't the first zoo fatality and wouldn't be the last.

Meanwhile, more than 6,000 people have liked the Facebook page 'Help save OZ the Sumatran Tiger at Hamilton Zoo NZ'.

The page was set up yesterday afternoon.

An online petition to save the animal was also collecting support quickly.

More than 2300 signature have been collected.

More than 2300 signature have been collected.