WELLINGTON — A five-day inquest into the fatal mauling of a Zimbabwean-born wildlife worker, Dalu Mncube, began in New Zealand yesterday.
Report by 3 News Mncube was mauled to death by a white Bengal tiger in May 2009 while he was cleaning the animal’s enclosure in Whangarei.
Another keeper was also injured and the tiger was eventually shot. Zion Wildlife Gardens was ordered to pay $60 000 reparation to Mncube’s partner last year after the Department of Labour charged it with failing to take practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees and failing to control hazards that could cause harm.
Part of the inquest will try to determine Mncube’s background.
He had at least three other names and it’s believed he came to New Zealand on his brother’s passport.
A pre-coronial inquest hearing into his death in June heard Mncube was also known as Clifford Mncube, Dalubuhle Ncube and Darlington Tembo. The Zion Wildlife Park was made famous by the Lion Man television series and was later caught up in an ownership dispute.
