It was reported this week that a Singapore Zoo cleaner has died after being attacked by 3 tigers.

The cleaner – Nordin Bin Montong was mauled by the white Bengal tigers (Read about the history of the bengal cat here)  after crossing a moat surrounding their enclosure. Eye witnesses reported that he was acting erratically.

The alarm was raised by zookeepers after they heard horrified visitors screaming.

They managed to distract the tigers and pull Mr Nordin away but he died of his injuries on the way to hospital. Police are investigating the incident.

Reports say that witnesses saw the cleaner climb into the enclosure and wade through the 33 foot wide moat. He then approached the tigers with a broomstick and a bucket. The largest tiger then lunged at Mr Nordin, who fell immediately and recoiled into a foetal position.

“Police are still investigating. We are not able to say exactly what happened,” said the assistant director of zoology, Biswajit Guha.

“But he was throwing things around and passing comments like ‘goodbye, you won’t see me again’,” said Mr Guha.

An Australian couple visiting the zoo told the Straits Times they had seen Mr Nordin shouting and throwing things as he walked past a crocodile earlier in the day.

Singapore Zoo has closed the white tiger exhibit as a precautionary measure.