TIGERS MAUL SARAWAKIAN WORKER TO DEATH IN SINGAPORE ZOO

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian worker from east coast Sarawak-state died after he was mauled by tigers at the Singapore Zoo in Mandai Road this afternoon.

Visitors watched in horror as three white tigers pounced on Nordin Montong,
32, who was said to have entered the enclosure where the tigers were kept in the
12.30pm incident.

Zoo workers rushed to rescue him by distracting the tigers.

A Singapore police spokesman who confirmend the incident when contacted by
Bernama, said the man was injured on his neck and body.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at about 12.45pm.

Meanwhile, in a statement Thursday evening, Singapore Zoo's Assistant
Director of Zoology Biswajit Guha said the victim's family had been
notified.

He said zoo officials had sent condolences to the worker's family and would
provide assistance they needed.

Biswajit also said that zoo authorities had commenced their investigations
into "this isolated incident".

He said Singapore Zoo was committed to ensuring the safety and well-being
of
all visitors and employees as well as the animals.

As a precautionary measure, the zoo authorities had temporarily closed the
white tiger exhibit, he added.



Recounting the incident, he said the victim, a contract worker, was
attacked
by three white tigers after he allegedly jumped into the moat at the white tiger
exhibit at 12.15pm.

This created a commotion, which attracted the attention of a keeper who was
nearby.

Simultaneously, other keepers went to the exhibit to distract the tigers in
a bid to rescue the worker.

The keepers managed to rescue the worker and brought him out of the
exhibit,
Biswajit said.

While waiting for the ambulance, the zoo veterinarians attended to him but
Nordin had succumbed to his wounds, he added.