white tiger

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — An animal keeper was mauled to death Wednesday by a rare white tiger at a wildlife park in New Zealand while visitors watched in horror, police said.The animal _ one of only 120 white tigers in the world _ was killed because it wouldn't release the keeper's body, police inspector Paul Dimmery told National Radio.

South African national Dalu Mncube was attacked after he and a colleague entered the cage at Zion Wildlife Park on New Zealand's North Island to clean it, police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said.

There was "nothing to indicate why it attacked _ but the fact is they're wild animals," Dimmery added