Zhang Chuanjun, the official, said Liu Jinling was killed by the tigers when he entered the park "without taking precautionary measures," in violation of park regulations.

The park is a private tourist site which opened to visitors in July of this year. It now has 12 Siberian Tigers, rented from a tiger park in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province.

Liu, a security guard, went missing on November 18. Later, pieces of his clothing and body were found in the park.

At the time of his last patrol, the tigers had been released from their cages and were roaming free.

Ignoring regulations which call for the use of a vehicle while the tigers are loose, Liu was attacked when he tried to take a shortcut through the park.

The park will likely pay Liu's relatives about 100,000 yuan (US$12,091) in compensation, sources with the park said.

On October 3, a worker at the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park was also killed by a tiger.

(eastday.com December 9, 2002)