Tiger at Auckland Zoo who killed keeper will not be put down (full story)

The 43-year-old woman zookeeper who was mauled to death by a tiger at a New Zealand zoo while cleaning the enclosure... who listed 'interacting with animals' as her great love

• The woman was named by police as Samantha Lynda Kudeweh, 43
• Woman was attacked by a male tiger at Hamilton Zoo, south of Auckland 
• She was reportedly mauled to death while cleaning the enclosure 
• Paramedics said the female zookeeper died at the scene earlier today
• Visitors described seeing keeper inside enclosure minutes before attack

By Leith Huffadine and Jenny Awford For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20 September 2015

The female zookeeper mauled to death by a tiger at a New Zealand zoo was Samantha Lynda Kudeweh.

Police named the 43-year-old woman - who had worked at the zoo as a curator for more than 20 years - as the victim on Sunday evening, Stuff.co.nz reported.

A profile for the zookeeper on the Hamilton Zoo website features a photograph of her facing off with a tiger on the other side of a fence.

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This photo, from Samantha Kudeweh's Hamilton Zoo profile, shows her face-to-face with a tiger 

The profile says Kudeweh worked at zoos in Auckland as well as at the Melbourne and Werribee Zoos in Australia before working at the Hamilton Zoo.

It goes on to describe her favourite part of the job - 'opportunities to interact with other species one to one'.

The downside was saying goodbye to animals, it said.

'That part never gets any easier.'

Although she was killed by a tiger, her profile said her favourite animal was the rhino - although she had a soft spot for 'whoever is behaving'. 

The woman was attacked by Oz, one of the male Sumatran tigers, while she was cleaning the enclosure at Hamilton Zoo, south of Auckland, on the country's North Island this morning.

Emergency services rushed to the zoo at 11am, but paramedics said the woman died at the scene. 

Police stand at the gates of the Hamilton Zoo after the tiger attack

A female zookeeper has been mauled to death by a tiger at Hamilton Zoo, south of Auckland, pictured are five of the Sumatran tigers in their enclosure earlier this week

Visitors have described seeing a keeper inside the enclosure minutes before the attack and said the staff seemed 'panicky' when they ordered the evacuation of the zoo in Rotokauri.

Oz, who is 11-years-old, was in an enclosure with one of the older females at the time of the attack, according to Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs.

Mr Briggs said all zoo staff were 'devastated', but he refused to comment on whether the tiger would be put down.

He said: 'Oz is safely contained in his enclosure. All other animals at the zoo are appropriately contained and at no time have any zoo animals not be been contained.'

Mr Briggs also declined to comment on whether the staff member was authorised to be in the enclosure or what she was doing until the investigation finished. 

A sign for Hamilton Zoo advertising close-up encounters with Tigers

Hundreds of people have taken to social media to pay tribute to the female keeper and plead with authorities not to put the tiger down. 

Earlier, Senior Sergeant Juliet Burgess, Waikato District Command Centre, described the attack as a 'tragic incident'.

She said: 'Sadly the staff member who was attacked by the tiger has died at the scene. This is a tragic incident.' 

The woman was attacked by Oz (pictured), one of the male Sumatran tigers, while she was cleaning the enclosure

The woman was reportedly attacked while she was cleaning the enclosure at the zoo (pictured) which is just south of Auckland

'It is too early to determine exactly what's happened.'

In a statement on its Twitter account, Hamilton Zoo said: 'We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of a female staff member today after an attack by one of the zoo's Sumatran tigers. 

'Our focus is on supporting staff and the wider zoo family, and working with relevant agencies on investigations which are underway.' 

Dave Smart, the zoo's experience manager, spoke to media this morning, but refused to comment on the handler's injuries.

He claimed there were no safety risks inside the premises and said all visitors will receive a refund. 

Police and WorkSafe are currently investigating the incident at the zoo which will remain closed today. 

Adam Rich, from Melbourne, told the New Zealand Herald he saw a keeper open the gates so the Tigers could go outside around 45 minutes before the attack.

He said: 'I saw the Tigers about 45 minutes to an hour before the evacuation of the premises and yeah they looked fine.

'There was a keeper in there who opened up the gate so the Tigers could leave the inside area to go to the outside area but that's all I saw.' 

He said zoo staff 'seemed a bit panicky' when they approached him and asked him to leave.

'I thought an animal had escaped but they guaranteed that an animal did not escape,' he said.

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

Oz was brought to Hamilton Zoo in 2013 from Auckland Zoo as part of the Global Species Management plan for Sumatran tigers.

He was paired up with Sali and the cubs were born in November of 2014.

St John tweeted earlier today that a patient was in a critical condition after an 'animal attack' in Rotokauri in the Waikato.

Two ambulance vehicles attended at 11.02am to treat one patient, but 'no transport was required'.

Fire Service spokesman Scott Osmond said they were called to the scene at 11.07am.

'All I'm aware of this, we got a job sent to us from the ambulance to assist in any way we can.

'There has been a reported attack of a tiger on a zookeeper at Hamilton Zoo.'

Photographer David Rowe, a regular visitor at the zoo, left flowers (pictured) outside the entrance today

Photographer David Rowe, a regular visitor at the zoo, said he had not heard who was killed, but he had strong suspicions. 

'I have only heard what I have read on Facebook. I spend a lot of time here and know the keepers quite well. We all get on really well together,' he said. 

'The tigers are my favourites ... this is really surprising and a very, very sad day.' 

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker visited the zoo and said it was 'a very sad day'.

She said: 'We extend our sincere condolences to everyone involved. It's a very close staff community here at the zoo and a lot of the staff are hurting including ourselves.'

The Sumatran tiger is a rare sub-species of the tiger and only 500 exist in the wild.

The sub-species is only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Dozens of people have posted messages of support on social media with many sending their thoughts to the keeper's family. 

Selena McMinn tweeted: 'My thoughts are with the Keeper and Tiger involved in this mornings incident. I hope everyone is okay. Stay Strong.' 

Liz Clark said it was tragic news: 'Heartfelt condolences to her.' 

Wendy Lester said: 'Reeling from the news about Hamilton Zoo, my son spent a couple of weeks doing tiger observations at Auckland Zoo, he loves them.'

Becca Barnes ‏said: 'Oh geez, this is horrible. Thoughts are with the Hamilton Zoo staff and the victim's family.'

Doris Chapmanton said: 'My heart goes out to everyone at the Hamilton Zoo. I so loved, and am deeply missing, my time as a zoo host and so loved those tigers. It must be devastating. My thoughts are with you.'

This is not the first time a zoo keeper has been fatally attacked by a tiger.

Sarah McClay, 24, was attacked in the big cat enclosure at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on May 24 last year. 

Dalu MnCube was also fatally mauled by a white tiger at Whangarei's Zion Wildlife Garden in May 2009. 

The Hamilton Zoo was closed after the attack which resulted in the death of zookeeper Samantha Kudeweh

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'There is no reason for us to put Oz down': Tiger that mauled female keeper to death will NOT be killed as zoo says he is vital to their breeding program

• Oz, the male Sumatran tiger will not be put down after killing zoo keeper 
• Samantha Kudeweh, 43, was mauled to death by the tiger in New Zealand 
• Hamilton Zoo employees have paid tribute calling her a professional
• Zoo professionals say the attack was in line with Oz's natural instincts 

By Alisha Buaya and Leith Huffadine and Jenny Awford For Daily Mail Australia

Published: September 2015

The Sumatran tiger who killed a zookeeper on Sunday will not be put down, after a petition called on him to be saved. 

Oz the 11 year-old male after he mauled Samantha Kudeweh, 43, to death on Sunday at Hamilton Zoo, New Zealand.

Hamilton City Council general manager Lance Vervoot said there is no reason to put down. 

'Although there is an inherent risk for zoo professionals who manage big cats like Oz, there is no wider ongoing risk. There is no reason for us to put Oz down', Mr Vervoot said in a report by ABC. 

Hamilton City Council general manager confirms Oz the Sumatran tiger will not be put down 

'Oz is a significant animal for his species. He is the father of our two cubs, and he is vital to the ongoing breeding program to conserve this rare species,' he said. 

He, along with other zoo professionals say Oz's attack was a natural instinct. 

Mr Vervoot said that the Hamilton Zoo team are still coming to terms with the tragedy and appreciate the supportive messages.  

Catherine Nichols, a colleague of Ms Kudeweh, said in a statement: 'Samantha was an experienced zoo industry professional who had an exceptional reputation following more than 20 years in the conservation and zoo sector.'

According to a report by the Sunshine Coast Daily, Ms Kudeweh is being survived by her husband and two young children, a 9 year old boy and a 3 year old girl.

Many supporters of saving Oz the Sumatran Tiger have taken to Facebook to express their opinions

A Facebook page and Change.org petition was set up to stop the animal from euthanised, saying that he doesn't deserve to be put down.

The Facebook page has gained close to 11,500 likes, while the Change.org petition has reached almost 19,000 signatures in support of saving Oz.

Many of the people who have expressed support of saving the tiger have also wished the family of the 43-year-old victim their condolences.

A former big cat vet Brett Christian told 3News that tigers are in the mating season where the tigers are very territorial, suggesting that the tiger may have been in a heightened state. 

Facebook users share their opinions on the media's portrayal of the tiger

Samantha Lynda Kudewe, 43, had worked at the zoo as a curator for more than 20 years - as the victim on Sunday evening,Stuff.co.nz reported.

A profile for the zookeeper on the Hamilton Zoo website features a photograph of her facing off with a tiger on the other side of a fence. 

The profile says Kudeweh worked at zoos in Auckland as well as at the Melbourne and Werribee Zoos in Australia before working at the Hamilton Zoo.

 

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