A rare white tiger savaged a zookeeper to death as he entered a cage during feeding time, leaving a connecting door unlocked.

The keeper at Mariupol Zoo, Donetsk, in Russian-occupied Ukraine, had apparently forgotten to check an airlock door that kept the big cats at bay while he took in their meat.

Gruesome photos taken after the attack on 22nd April show the keeper's blood still on the concrete floor of the grim cage.

Police from the Donetsk Investigative Committee are investigating what they describe as death by negligence.

Picture shows the scene where a tiger attacked an employee of the Mariupol Zoo, undated. The incident occurred on April 22, 2025. Note: Photo from Investigative Committee. (@sledcom_dnr/Newsflash/NX)

A spokesperson said: "A procedural investigation has been launched in Mariupol following a report of a tiger attacking a zoo employee

"The investigation established that on 22.04.2025 at about noon, a white tiger attacked an employee of the Mariupol Zoo.

"According to preliminary data, the animal attacked the employee when he entered the enclosure to feed it. The man died from the injuries he received.

"Currently, measures are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the incident.

"Based on the results of the investigation, a procedural decision will be made."

Picture shows the Mariupol Zoo, undated. A tiger attacked an employee. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)

It is unclear what has happened to the tiger.

White tigers are a rare colour variation of Bengal or Siberian tigers, characterised by their white fur and pale stripes caused by a genetic mutation called leucism.

They are very rare in the wild and genetically distinct from similar-looking albinos.

(Joseph Golder/newsX)