A Malaysian contract worker died after being attacked by three white tigers at the Singapore Zoo on Thursday.
Police said they received a report at 12.30pm about a man sustaining neck injuries at the zoo. Paramedics were called to the scene and Nordin was pronounced dead at 12.45pm.
Biswajit Guha, assistant director, Singapore Zoo, said: "Prior to the incident, the zookeepers had actually noticed that the contract worker was behaving erratically.
"He was throwing things around and as he was walking out of the zoo, he passed comments like ’Goodbye, you won’t see me again’. He later cycled back and 5 minutes later, the alarm went off."
Nordin had jumped off the ledge into the water and once he was inside the enclave, the three white tigers mauled him for five to ten minutes, while 20 zookeepers tried desperately to save him by distracting the animals.
They were too late, as were the two licensed rifle shooters who were called to the scene.
As a precautionary measure, the white tiger exhibit has been temporarily closed and the 9—year—old tigers, which came from Indonesia, are in confinement for now.
Zoo officials said once the police finish their investigations, they would examine if there is a need to further enhance safety measures.
Singapore Zoo added that it is natural for tigers to pounce on any prey and there is no reason to sedate the animals.
