A zookeeper has died after being mauled by a rare white tiger at a zoo in the southwestern Japanese city of Kagoshima.

Akira Furusho, 40, was found bleeding from a neck wound in the animal’s enclosure late on Monday. He was declared dead in hospital.

A police official told AFP: “A zookeeper was found collapsed in a cage, bleeding,” confirming that he later died.

According to Kyodo News, five-year-old Riku, a male tiger found with Furusho, was sedated with a tranquiliser during the rescue operation.

The Hirakawa Zoological Park opened for business on Tuesday, though the tiger enclosure was cordoned off.

Japan Today reports that keepers are forbidden from entering display cages before tigers have been moved to their sleeping chambers, prompting questions about health and safety at the zoo.