Mauled zookeeper claims he was forced out of job

A Wellington zookeeper who was mauled by two lions in January says he has been forced out of his job by zoo management.

A Labour Department investigation found Bob Bennett, 54, a keeper with 19 years' experience, was partly to blame for the mauling because he did not follow safety procedures.

He told investigators he assumed an animal trainer had locked the gates when he went into the enclosure to feed two-year-old African lions Malik and Zulu.

He suffered 20 puncture wounds to his arms, back, shoulders and neck, and spent three days in hospital after the 20-minute attack on January 10, which happened in front of a crowd of zoo visitors.

The lions, weighing about 130kg, had slipped through an open door into the enclosure.

"I remember those canines sinking into my shoulder, and I thought my days were over," Mr Bennett told the Sunday Star Times today.

Mr Bennett returned to the zoo the weekend after the attack, but it was soon made clear he would not be welcome back in his old job, he told the newspaper.

"I didn't want to go straight back to working with dangerous animals, but I told them my ultimate aim was to work with animals again."

However, management told him they "couldn't take the risk" of allowing him to work as a keeper, instead offering him some hours working in the zoo shop and a part-time job as a guide.

"It was a real shock. So I left, I felt I had no option."

Mr Bennett now works in aviation security at Wellington Airport, which is "better money" - but he misses his old workmates and the animals.

Zoo manager Mauritz Basson said he was sad that Mr Bennett felt he had been forced to quit, but the zoo could not take the risk of such an incident happening again.

"Our first duty is to keep the staff, the public and animals safe, and I think we used up all our luck on this one."

- NZPA