Police launch investigation into tiger’s killing of zookeeper

Rosa King, 34, died from injuries at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire on Monday after big cat entered enclosure she was in

Hamerton Zoo Park keeper Rosa King (Facebook)

Police and the council are investigating following the death of a zookeeper who was killed after a tiger entered the enclosure she was in.

A spokesman for Hamerton Zoo Park in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, said it will remain closed after the death of Rosa King, 34, on Monday.

Ms King was described as “inspirational” and enjoyed working with her “beloved cats”, friends said, while her mother said she “wouldn't have done anything else” as a career.

Cambridgeshire police said the tiger has not been harmed, adding: “We are jointly investigating with the council.”

Nigel McCurdy, for Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “The council sympathises with the family and friends of the zookeeper and offers its condolences.

”Both the police and the council are working together within routine protocols to progress investigations into the incident as efficiently and effectively as possible.“

A statement released by the zoo said: ”It is with huge regret that we confirm that Rosa King, a senior zookeeper who was an invaluable and highly respected member of our team, died on Monday morning after entering a tiger enclosure at Hamerton Zoo Park.“

”Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Rosa's family and friends, many of whom worked alongside her at the zoo.

“We are cooperating fully with the investigation that is currently being conducted by Huntingdonshire District Council Environmental Health Department.

”The zoo will remain closed for the time being. We are not able to comment further at this time.“

The zoo was reportedly told by inspectors to improve its emergency communications systems.

The Telegraph said the zoo had been criticised following an inspection in 2013 - which ordered the owners to “review and replace ageing safety barriers where the structural integrity of the barrier is compromised”.

The report, quoted in the paper, added: “Inspectors consider that reliance on mobiles to communicate in an emergency is not sufficient and the system needs to be upgraded to ensure that all relevant staff can be contacted simultaneously.”

Owners were also tasked with tailoring escape procedures to the various risks posed by animals at the zoo.

Distressed staff are said to have thrown meat into the enclosure in a desperate attempt to help Ms King during the incident on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday.

One witness, Pete Davis, told BBC Radio 5 live: “You could obviously see the keepers were all distressed and, you know, not really knowing what to do, heads in their hands.

”A couple of them were throwing meat over the enclosure to try and entice the tiger away.“

Ms King's mother Andrea told the Press Association her daughter had worked at the zoo for around 14 years, adding: ”She wouldn't have done anything else, it's what she has always done, it's what she has always loved.“

Copyright Press Association