Beijing fatal tiger attack not work safety accident: investigation

The Beijing wildlife park whose tigers killed a woman and severely mauled another was not to blame for the incident, according to the results of an official investigation announced on Wednesday.

The tourists ignored park rules and clear warning signs when one of them got off their car in an area that contained three free-roaming Siberian tigers, an investigation by Beijing's Yanqing district government found.

The attack took place at Badaling Wildlife World on July 23, when a 32-year-old woman surnamed Zhao left her car, walked around the vehicle and stood by the door on the driver's side. A tiger showed up and dragged her off.

The husband of the woman and her 57-year-old mother both got out of the car in an attempt to rescue her. The mother was mauled to death, while Zhao suffered severe injuries.

The park allows visitors to drive their own cars through an area where the animals roam free, but they are instructed to stay in their vehicles.

The report also indicated some problems with the park's emergency training and suggested it find better ways to remind tourists to pay more attention to safety.

The park has 12 tigers in total, with three in the free-roaming zone when the attack happened.

Badaling Wildlife World covers an area of 400 hectares and has about 10,000 animals. Endi