A zookeeper in Germany was mauled to death by a tiger after the worker forgot to lock a cage door — and the ferocious cat pounced.
The 56-year-old zookeeper was laying food outside the animal’s compound at Munster Zoo on Thursday, when the Siberian tiger crept up from behind and bit the worker’s throat, according to Germany’s The Local.
The keeper, known only Martin H., died instantly from a single bite as zoo-goers watched in horror.
Zoo chief Jörg Adler said staffers immediately called medics for help but it was too late.
“An encounter like that with a tiger isn’t something that can be survived,” he said.
The 10-year-old tiger, named Rasputin, won’t be put to sleep due to the attack, authorities said.
The tragic accident comes after a different tiger killed a zookeeper in the area earlier this year.
In that case, a woman was mauled by the tiger in a staff area that should have been closed to animals.