A Bengal tiger roars at a zoo in Rawalpindi of Pakistan's Punjab province on March 3, 2021. (Photo:Xinhua)

A zookeeper was killed on Sunday after being attacked by a tiger he breeds daily in Bengbu, East China's Anhui Province. 

The zoo, the second-largest in the province and a wildlife shelter in the city, is well known for its technology in the breeding of Siberian tigers. At present, four Siberian tigers live in the zoo.

The keeper died after being taken to hospital on Sunday morning with obvious bite or scratch marks on his neck, head, and back.

According to Bangbu authorities, it was initially believed that the keeper had entered the cage to clean it without making sure the door of the tiger's isolation cubicle was locked.

The 55-year-old, surnamed Yang, has been a tiger handler at the Zhanggongshan Zoo for nearly two decades.

The zoo is currently closed. The relevant department is investigating the incident. 

In 2010, a zookeeper at another wildlife zoo in Xiuning county, Anhui Province, died after being bitten by a tiger for more than 20 minutes while feeding it.

Global Times