Wildlife park pleads guilty over killing

Big cat keeper Dalu Mncube. Photo / Beck Vass

The father of Lion Man Craig Busch says he is not surprised the wildlife park now run by his ex-wife has admitted guilt over the death of big cat handler Dalu Mncube.

Mr Mncube, a keeper at the Zion Wildlife Gardens in Whangarei, was mauled to death by a 260kg white tiger in 2009.

The 26-year-old, from South Africa, had been cleaning the animal's cage when he was attacked.

Yesterday, at the Whangarei District Court, Zion Wildlife Gardens pleaded guilty to failing to protect Mr Mncube.

The Department of Labour laid charges under the Health and Safety Act for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees while at work and failing to ensure that no hazard harms people lawfully at work.

The park pleaded guilty to both charges and will be sentenced on July 14.

Yesterday Craig Busch's father, Kevin Busch, said he expected the guilty plea from his former wife and the Lion Man's mother, Patricia Busch.

Ms Busch and her son have been involved in a bitter battle for ownership of the park for more than two years.

Mr Busch said: "She just admitted to her guilt ... It's what I expected of her. It was meant to go on for eight days, that trial, and she put it off. She puts things off all the time. I know how she thinks.

"She doesn't like being trialled, she doesn't like being told what to do, she doesn't like being questioned."

Mr Busch said he had been in touch with his son.

"All Craig wants is his park back, which he rightfully should [have]. And if he was there, none of this would have happened," Mr Busch said.

"[Patricia's] just going to be getting what she deserves, that's it. She shouldn't be doing what she's done. All of [Craig's] 70,000 fans on Facebook all know that too."

Spokeswoman for the park Sara Reid yesterday said the company changed its plea to protect staff from further stress.

Admitting guilt would also bring some finality to Mr Mncube's family.

"The company believed it was compliant as audited by MAF with the full knowledge of OSH with protocols that were put in place by the previous operator Craig Busch," Ms Reid said.

"The park had an earlier injury to an employee from the same animal and no changes to procedures were required by OSH or MAF."