-
White tiger - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
A former volunteer at the Lion Man's troubled wildlife park says more could have been done to prevent a tiger from fatally mauling a keeper.
Dalu Mncube was killed at the Zion Wildlife Gardens in Whangarei by the same big cat that had previously mauled another keeper.
The park says it followed all safety procedures and had recently carried out emergency drills.
A former volunteer at the park says she had major concerns about the public being allowed to pet some of the big cats.
"If one of those animals were to turn 10 men couldn't stop it, I'm very surprised that somebody hasn't been killed already because of those issues," says Rosemary.
She says park management was asked to look into tazers or stun guns for the keepers but didn't.
"What would have happened if he'd had a tazer would he still be alive today," she says.
Many are mourning the death of Dalu and came on Thursday to give something back to a man who gave so much to the park.
"These flowers are from my girls this was given to my daughter on the 17th of may and she wanted to give it back to her Uncle Dalu," says one woman.
Other friends joined in paying their respects.
"I reckon he was the backbone of this park he knew all the animals and the animals knew him and its a very sad loss I think even the lions feel it that they lost there father," says Neo Phamoste, a friend of Dalu.
More details of the vicious attack are surfacing.
Another keeper used everything he could to try and force the tiger back.
"He had a large stick next to himself he then beat the tiger repeatedly with the stick and then eventually started using an electric cattle prodder, now that cattle prodder delivers quite a bolt, it's quite a shock to receive. The animal stopped the attack very briefly when that was used and then returned," says Glen Holland, Zion Wildlife Gardens Manager.
ONE News understands the mauling went on for some minutes.
"He's died from severe trauma caused by the teeth marks," says Dimery.
The tiger was eventually shot twice, once with a shotgun then with a 308 magnum.
"From my perspective in this preliminary stage that was the correct call," says Inspector Paul Dimery from the Northland Police.
The big cats body has also been examined.
Zion Wildlife Gardens says its followed all the rules but for the moment the future of the park and the big cats that Dalu loved remains very uncertain.
