5 Jun 2009

Tiger attack victim to be buried in South Africa

9:15 am on 5 June 2009

The zoo-keeper killed by a tiger at the Zion Wildlife Gardens near Whangarei will be buried in his homeland in South Africa.

Dalu Mncube was mauled last Wednesday by a rare white Bengal tiger he had helped raise from a cub.

The Zimbabwean Association of New Zealand had raised about half the $12,000 needed to fly Mr Mncube's body home.

Whangarei car-dealer Mark Cromie, whose business had previously sponsored the wildlife park, has offered to pay the balance.

Mr Cromie says Dalu Mncube and the park have contributed much to Whangarei, and he felt the city should give something back.