Making me hear this reminds me of this incident that happened in 2013 involving Sali: Alone with the tiger - national | Stuff.co.nz. At the time she "ran ''playfully'' up to the keeper and swatted her gumboots, before the keeper, who didn't panic, returned to the keeper gate and exited the enclosure".......a whole different scenario now that she has cubs. Sad to hear though.
That's what I thought of as well. Update: It's just been released that the tiger involved in the attack is Oz
Makes me wonder how it was possible that this could happen? First incident entering an enclosure while a tiger was still in it (luckily Sali is hand-raised), and now supposedly while cleaning an enclosure.
I was in shock when I read about what had happened. Until they release the findings I guess we won't really know. There was that incident back in 2006 at Wellington Zoo as well when a keeper was mauled by lions after they got out of the lockoff. Lions were 'only playing' with mauled zookeeper - National - NZ Herald News Condolences to the family and friends concerned and to Hamilton Zoo staff and management. I am very very sorry it has happened
It's just been announced that the keeper killed was Sam Kudeweh, Hamilton Zoo's curator. My thoughts are with her friends, family and all the staff at Hamilton Zoo and Auckland Zoo (where she previously worked). Many will remember her from earler series of The Zoo TV show.
Only just seen this thread thoughts are with everyone at Hamilton and Sam's family at this time... The statement below was released by them today: The zoo will be closed until Thursday at the earliest The family of Hamilton Zoo Curator Samantha Kudeweh have gathered at her Waikato home following her death on Sunday, 20 September, at the zoo she loved. Speaking on behalf of the family, Samantha's colleague Catherine Nichols – also a Hamilton Zoo staff member – says the extended Kudeweh family wanted to thank the public and the global zoo and conservation community for their messages of support over the past 24 hours after news of Sam's death became public. Samantha, 43, was recognised and respected globally as a talented, passionate and highly knowledgeable conservation and zoo professional whose expertise and understanding of animals was highly sought after by other zoos and captive animal breeding programmes. Catherine says Samantha was an experienced zoo industry professional who had an exceptional reputation following more than 20 years in the conservation and zoo sector. Her role as Curator at Hamilton Zoo made her second-in-charge to the Zoo Director, and she was responsible for the management of the animals and acquisitions of new animal exhibits. "Samantha was a passionate conservationist, and today her family have recalled how, as an intermediate school student, she told her parents she wanted to work in the zoo sector," says Catherine. "She was a volunteer at Auckland Zoo for a number of years before joining the staff." She grew up in Papakura, and studied at Lincoln University and Auckland University toward a Bachelor of Science. She worked at Auckland Zoo for several years, before a shift to Zoos Victoria in 2002. During her stay in Melbourne she met Richard Kudeweh, another zoo professional who she would go on to marry. In 2005, Samantha and Richard moved to Hamilton Zoo, where she started as the mammals team leader. In 2011 she was promoted to zoo curator, achieving one of her professional dreams. It gave her the opportunity to become involved in a number of species management programmes, an area of conservation which she had a passion for. She was responsible for managing breeding programmes for a number of species, including the southern white rhino, and was able to influence the zoo sector across Australasia. She was NZFaunaTAG co-convenor (birds), a nationwide programme to help rebuild populations of native species. Samantha has two beautiful children with Richard – Billy, 9, and Sage, 3. The zoo was a crucial part of Samantha's life, second only to her family. She appreciated what Richard called "intelligent humour", and loved the people around her and those she worked alongside. Family and friends of Samantha have asked for privacy at this time while they grieve and make arrangements for an appropriate farewell for Samantha. Kudeweh family statement
This is a very sad event, and my thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Sam. I'm very surprised about the statement from the Hamilton City Council's (who "own" the zoo) chief executive Richard Briggs, who according to the article below, "could not rule out Oz having to be eventually euthanised as a consequence of the attack". This has led to (Petition to save tiger Oz's life after attack that killed keeper Samantha Kudeweh | Stuff.co.nz Which is not the sort of support the Zoo really needs at this time. I had thought it would be essentially unthinkable that the tiger be euthanised, given that is essentially never the standard response worldwide. I hope the HCC just didn't really know exactly what they were on about at the press conference (at ehich no zoo staff were present), and they come out and addresses this issue very soon to clear the air.
wow, that's bad press at this time! For the majority of ordinary people that is going to come across as the zoo itself saying the tiger will be put down, rather than some dude at the council with no clue saying it might happen.
Exactly, its an additional blow to the Zoo, and someone from Zoo or HCC needs to clarify it urgently.
At least three fatal incidents with Sumatran Tigers in the last few years- South Lakes a year or two ago, very recently at(was it) Warsaw(?) and now this one.
This is so sad. I remember watching her on The Zoo when she was at Auckland Zoo. I just wonder how something went so horribly wrong for someone with so much experience. Rest In Peace Sam. Thoughts are with your family and all those at Hamilton Zoo.
Suggestions that Oz could potentially be moved to an overseas zoo by a well known former Auckland keeper... Tiger must be moved: expert - National - NZ Herald News
I think its probably quite likely he will leave Hamilton, and overseas (probably Australia) would be a definite possibility. Obviously the keeper is not that well-known to the writer of the article, given they gave him the wrong name! Todd Barclay is a MP in NZ...
Hamilton Zoo has reopened, but will be shut next Monday for Sam's funeral. The Zoo has also announced that Oz will not be leaving Hamilton. Story here: Hamilton Zoo opens for business after fatal tiger attack | Stuff.co.nz
Excuse my ignorance as I am not familiar with some policies but could someone please explain the "two gate rule" to me? In most zoo's I can only think there is usually one gate between the keeper and animals even protected contact animals.
It is legislated, at least in NSW and I'd imagine in most places that there are always two gates between an animal and freedom, in particular for animals considered dangerous. This means when entering an area containing dangerous animals a keeper must pass through two gates before being able to gain access to the area containing the animals. Also known as an air lock.
A Givealittle page has been setup to help financially support Samantha Kudeweh's family. You can donate at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kudewehfamilytrust
