Zion staff barred from big cats

Flowers and cards at the gate of the Zion Wildlife Gardens, which has been shut following Dalu Mncube's death. Photo / Dean Purcell

Staff at Zion Wildlife Gardens have been banned from contact with the big cats and the park is closed to the public following the death of keeper Dalu Mncube.

Mr Mncube, 26, died on Wednesday in a horrific attack by the park's biggest cat, 260kg white tiger Abu, who was shot dead.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said yesterday that the park had been closed temporarily under the Biosecurity Act of 1993.

The park's operations manager, Glen Holland, told the Weekend Herald yesterday that the Department of Labour and MAF had enforced the ban on human contact while they investigate the death.

Mr Holland said the park had been told to renovate all its enclosures so that the animals inside could be kept completely segregated from people.

"There will be no more staff-cat interaction."

Mr Holland said renovations on the cages would be carried out over at least the next two weeks.

He did not know if the animals would be allowed within human reach again. "We'll just keep working on it until there's absolute compliance."

MAF said yesterday that the park would remain closed until it was able to consistently comply with the animal welfare and enclosure requirements for zoos and wildlife parks.

"At this point in time, MAF is ensuring that the welfare of the animals is not compromised and the park is being well managed. There is no intention to euthanase any of the animals," the ministry's statement said.

The Department of Labour has also served two "improvement notices" on the park and is working to ensure compliance with the notices.

Meanwhile, Jason Taylor, a former colleague of Mr Mncube's, told the Weekend Herald he believed Mr Mncube and the support staff at the park were underqualified.

Mr Taylor was angry about the death, saying Mr Mncube was possibly overworked and might have been rushing his chores.

He queried why the staff at the park did not have immediate access to firearms at the start of the attack and why Abu was not locked up in his den box while cleaning was in process.

Zion spokeswoman Sara Reid said last night she could not comment on the allegations.

"At the moment our key focus is on Dalu's family and looking after the staff that are grieving and mourning."

Earlier the Lion Man, Craig Busch, said he feared for the future of Zion. He said everyone needed to work together, but he had not made contact with the park management.

Asked about how he would feel should some of the cats be put down, Mr Busch said: "They're extinct in the wild, is there any reason for them to be extinct in captivity as well? I am deeply concerned about the future of the park, safety issues, the way it is being managed and the well-being of these animals."

Police are continuing to investigate whether there is criminal responsibility for Mr Mncube's death. Officers assisted Department of Labour investigators in taking witness statements from the staff and visitors.

One witness was Dewanand Chaudharry, who had taken friends from Britain to the park. He said Mr Mncube had joked with him while he was picking up tiger droppings.

"That's the last I heard from him. He said, 'Would you like to swap my job?' I can't forget his voice - it's still calling in my mind."

Moments later the tiger latched on to Mr Mncube's shoulder, dragging him around the enclosure. He died in minutes.

AN AFRICAN FAREWELL

Dalu Mncube will be farewelled on Tuesday at the same place he died.

Zion Wildlife Gardens spokeswoman Sara Reid said last night that the service would be for friends and family only.

The park had been "absolutely inundated" with tributes of support flowing in from around the world.

"He's touched so many people's hearts," Ms Reid said.

While details of Mr Mncube's funeral were still being finalised, it would include live music and African dancing.

"I'm sure it will be a really special day for Dalu," Ms Reid said.

Mr Mncube's brother, Fortune Shumba, told the Herald that his family were struggling to come to terms with the loss of one of six brothers.

Mr Shumba lives in Auckland but four brothers and his parents live in southern Africa. It is not known if they will come to New Zealand for the funeral.

A Dalu Mncube Family Trust has been established and all money donated will go to his children and to returning his body home.