An employee of a predator park in Gqeberha was killed by a Siberian tiger on Wednesday afternoon.
Electric fencing around an enclosure housing two tigers, Jasper and Jade, was being repaired when Jasper jumped the exterior fence and got out, said management of Seaview Predator Park.
Employee David Solomon was in the passageway between enclosures walking towards the water supply taps when the tiger escaped.
“David attempted to climb the fence of a different enclosure to get to safety and was pulled off the fence by Jasper.
“We confirm that David obviously had bite marks but it would seem that Jasper broke David’s neck when he pulled David off the fence.”
Jasper then proceeded to jump the exterior fence of the next door enclosure which houses Siberian tigers Judah and Amber.
“A fight ensued between Judah and Jasper and Judah was killed. Jasper, being an (unneutered) male Siberian tiger, wanted the attentions of Amber, a female Siberian tiger.”
The park was immediately shut down after the incident and members of the public who were near the tiger enclosures were taken to safety.
A vet from Kragga Kamma was on site to tranquillise Jasper and Amber so that the remains of David could be retrieved, as well as those of Judah, the tiger that was killed by Jasper.
Solomon had worked at the predator park for 15 years and had known the animals since they were cubs.
Solomon’s death has left staff members heartbroken and traumatised, specifically those who were present when the incident occurred.
Management for the park said Jasper’s incident was a first and Jasper was “obviously fuelled by hormones”.
“Jasper is now quite calm and content sharing an enclosure with Amber and there are no plans to destroy Jasper.
The electric fencing has been returned to functionality.