PETALING JAYA: A video being shared on social media of two white tigers mauling a man did not happen recently at Sunway Lagoon as is being claimed, but actually took place at the Singapore Zoo in November 2008.
The actual incident made headlines when 32-year-old Malaysian zoo cleaner Nordin Montong leaped into the tiger enclosure and waded towards three tigers - Winnie, Omar and Jippie - in full view of shocked onlookers who initially thought it was a show.
According to a report by The Straits Times, Nordin was mauled to death after he went close to the tigers, puffed up his chest and raised his arms in the incident which was ruled a suicide by the state coroner in 2009.
Evidence showed that the cleaner had not accidentally fallen into the tiger enclosure "but had deliberately jumped into the moat, waded through the water before thrusting his chest towards the advancing tiger with both arms outstretched", said the coroner.
A pathologist noted that Nordin suffered 90 external injuries, in addition to fractures of the skull, neck and ribs.
A zookeeper who testified in court was of the opinion that the tigers thought Nordin was some sort of toy, as keepers often let the animals play with brightly coloured toys and objects.
Witnesses of the attack also testified that they were certain the man had not tried to defend or save himself when the tigers attacked him.
Following the tragedy, the zoo introduced more safety measures, such as installing emergency alarms and stepping up patrols by zoo keepers and staff members.
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