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Zoo tiger death: Victim named as Rosa King | Zoo tiger death: Victim named as Rosa King |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A zoo-keeper who died after a tiger entered an enclosure at a wildlife park in Cambridgeshire has been named as 33-year-old Rosa King. | A zoo-keeper who died after a tiger entered an enclosure at a wildlife park in Cambridgeshire has been named as 33-year-old Rosa King. |
The death happened at Hamerton Zoo Park, near Huntingdon, at about 11:15 BST on Monday. | The death happened at Hamerton Zoo Park, near Huntingdon, at about 11:15 BST on Monday. |
Friend Garry Chisholm, a wildlife photographer in his spare time, said she was the "focal point" and "shining light" of the wildlife park. | |
The zoo said it was a freak accident, and police said it was not suspicious. | The zoo said it was a freak accident, and police said it was not suspicious. |
Mr Chisholm, 59, of Irchester, Northamptonshire, said the wildlife park revolved around the zoo-keeper. | |
"Rosa wasn't just a keeper at Hamerton Zoo - she was Hamerton Zoo," he said. | |
"She was the absolute central point of it, the focal point of it. She was the shining light of it. | |
"Her passion for the animals in her care was exceptional though her favourites were undoubtedly the cheetahs which she would refer to as her pride and joy. | |
"She will be greatly missed, not just by me, but by everyone who came to know her. | |
"The only consolation I can take from today's tragic events is that Rosa is now reunited with her beloved Ares the cheetah, and Blizzard and Ladybelle, her beloved tigers." | |
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said: "A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper. Sadly the female zoo keeper died at the scene." | A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said: "A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper. Sadly the female zoo keeper died at the scene." |
Visitors were led away from the zoo. At no time did the animal escape from the enclosure, said police. | Visitors were led away from the zoo. At no time did the animal escape from the enclosure, said police. |
Officers investigating the death said it was "not believed to be suspicious", and that the tiger involved was "believed to be fine". | Officers investigating the death said it was "not believed to be suspicious", and that the tiger involved was "believed to be fine". |
Hamerton Zoo Park said in a statement: "This appears to have been a freak accident. | Hamerton Zoo Park said in a statement: "This appears to have been a freak accident. |
"At no point during the incident did any animals escape their enclosures and at no point was public safety affected in any way. | "At no point during the incident did any animals escape their enclosures and at no point was public safety affected in any way. |
"All our thoughts and sympathies are with our colleagues, friends and families at this dreadful time. | "All our thoughts and sympathies are with our colleagues, friends and families at this dreadful time. |
"The park will be closed from tomorrow, 30 May, and we will give more information as soon as we can." | "The park will be closed from tomorrow, 30 May, and we will give more information as soon as we can." |
The wildlife park said an investigation was under way. | The wildlife park said an investigation was under way. |
Hamerton Zoo Park | Hamerton Zoo Park |
The wildlife park opened in June 1990 and covers 25 acres. | The wildlife park opened in June 1990 and covers 25 acres. |
It includes enclosures for Malaysian tigers, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, wolves, corsac foxes, kangaroos as well as a variety of birds, reptiles and domestic animals. | It includes enclosures for Malaysian tigers, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, wolves, corsac foxes, kangaroos as well as a variety of birds, reptiles and domestic animals. |
The zoo opened a new enclosure for its Malaysian tigers in July last year. | The zoo opened a new enclosure for its Malaysian tigers in July last year. |
In October 2008 a cheetah which escaped from the park was found by a nine-year-old boy in the back garden of his family home. | In October 2008 a cheetah which escaped from the park was found by a nine-year-old boy in the back garden of his family home. |
A visitor to the zoo, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC: "We got to the zoo at opening time, around 11:45. | A visitor to the zoo, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC: "We got to the zoo at opening time, around 11:45. |
"We were close to the tiger enclosure when a member of staff shouted for everyone to leave the park quickly and immediately." | "We were close to the tiger enclosure when a member of staff shouted for everyone to leave the park quickly and immediately." |