Benidorm wildlife park zookeeper killed by tiger

The body of the 37-year-old keeper was discovered around 5pm at the Terra Natura park on Saturday

Zoo staff euthanised the animal with sedative darts to allow emergency workers to get into the enclosure to pronounce the woman dead (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A zookeeper has been attacked and killed by a tiger at a wildlife park in Benidorm, Spain.

The body of the 37-year-old keeper was discovered around 5pm at the Terra Natura park on Saturday, a Red Cross spokesperson said.

Zoo staff euthanised the animal with sedative darts to allow emergency workers to get into the enclosure to pronounce the woman dead, the Guardian reported.

The park was reportedly open at the time, but no visitors witnessed the attack.

Terra natura released a statement to say it "deeply regrets" the death of its employee, who had worked at the park for eight years.

"The zoo has strict security protocols for handling animals," the statement said. “For reasons that are being investigated, the zookeeper has come into direct contact with the animal while doing cleaning work in the interior shelters.”

Police are investigating the death.