A tiger who killed a keeper at Hamerton Zoo Park, in Cambridgeshire, will not be put down, bosses have confirmed.
A number of concerned members of the public contacted the zoo enquiring about the tiger’s fate following Rosa King’s death last Monday.
The decision not to destroy the animal has been “fully supported” by King’s family, the zoo said.
An investigation is ongoing into the 34-year-old’s death, which was described as a “freak accident” by the zoo.
The park said on Monday: “After extensive consultation with the staff at the zoo, we have decided not to put down the tiger.
“This decision has been fully supported by Rosa’s family.
“We are awaiting the findings of the investigation to fully understand what happened before we take further action on this matter.
“If we receive regulatory or professional guidance to the contrary, we will review our position.”
Following her death, the keeper’s family said she “lived and breathed a vocation that meant the world to her”.
The zoo is home to about 500 animals including monkeys, cheetahs, raccoons, sloth and tigers.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary said they were called to Hamerton Zoo Park at 11.15am on May 29 to reports of a serious incident.
“A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper. Sadly the female zookeeper died at the scene,” a spokesman said.
The force said it did not believe the incident was suspicious. The tiger was not harmed and a joint investigation with Huntingdonshire District Council is ongoing.
In July 2013 keeper Sarah McClay died after being mauled by a Sumatran tiger at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria.
The zoo was fined £255,000 at Preston Crown Court in June last year following the 24-year-old employee’s death in May 2013.