Female zookeeper killed by tiger at New Zealand zoo

A female zookeeper has been attacked and killed by a tiger at Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand.

The woman was reportedly cleaning the enclosure when she was mauled by one of the zoo's five Sumatran tigers.

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Emergency services were called to the zoo, which is located about 127km south of Auckland, but the woman died at the scene.

The incident occurred during opening hours, and visitors were asked to leave.

According to the Evening Standard, Adam Rich told The New Zealand Herald newspaper he saw the tigers on Sunday morning and saw a female zookeeper opening up a gate to let them into an outdoor enclosure.

About 45 minutes later, he said, "panicky" zoo staff approached him and asked him to leave while offering refunds.

Senior Sergeant Juliet Burgess, from the Waikato District Command Centre, told the Sydney Morning Herald: "Sadly the staff member who was attacked by the tiger has died at the scene.

"This is a tragic incident. It is too early to determine exactly what's happened."

Hamilton Zoo has taken to Twitter to say staff are "deeply saddened" by the attack.

The zoo has five Sumatran tigers named Mencari, Oz, Sali and 11-month-old cubs Kembali and Kirana.

There has been no comment on whether the animal will be put down, but one online user tweeted: "It's an awful tragedy but please, PLEASE don't put Oz down!! Tigers are carnivorous, wild animals and can't be domesticated x."

Another wrote: "What a sad day for her family & zoo family & now I'm sure a hard decision as to what to do with Oz. please don't put him down."

Hamilton Police were working with zoo staff and Worksafe NZ to investigate.

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