Zookeeper’s death is probed by police

Police and the council are investigating the case of zookeeper Rosa King, 34, who was killed after a tiger entered the enclosure she was in. A spokesman for Hamerton Zoo Park said it would remain closed.

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 would remain closed after the death of Rosa King, 34, on Monday. She was described as “inspirational” and friends said she enjoyed working with her “beloved cats”, while her mother said she “wouldn’t have done anything else” as a career.

The zoo was told to improve its emergency systems following an inspection carried out for Huntingdonshire District Council in 2013.

The report said the owners should “review and replace ageing safety barriers where the structural integrity of the barrier is compromised”.

It 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.”

But the council refused to confirm whether it was the most recent inspection or if the findings had been complied with.

Chief Inspector Donna Wass said Cambridgeshire Police and Huntingdonshire District Council were working together in a joint investigation.

“While there are no suspicious circumstances, the death of the zookeeper is still unexplained and the police have a duty to report to the coroner, which is why the police investigation is ongoing,” she said.

“Huntingdonshire District Council have a responsibility for health and safety and licensing at the zoo, and are investigating these aspects.”

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, said: “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 said 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.”

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.”

Some of those who knew Ms King have paid tribute to a woman they described as the “focal point” of the zoo.

Garry Chisholm, 59, a wildlife photographer in his spare time who knew Ms King through visiting the attraction, said the place revolved around her.

Mr Chisholm, from Irchester, Northamptonshire, said on Monday: “Rosa wasn’t just a keeper at Hamerton Zoo – she was Hamerton Zoo.

“She was the absolute central point of it, the focal point of it. She was the shining light of it. It revolved around her.”

The zoo will remain closed for the time being. A spokesman for Hamerton Park Zoo where a zookeeper died after being mauled by a tiger.