A TIGER that mauled a Scots zookeeper to death at an animal park is believed to have struck after getting into a staff area.

Police investigating the death of Sarah McClay, 24, from Glasgow, are working on the assumption human error caused the Sumatran tiger to escape from its pen and confront its victim at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday.

She died despite strict controls on workers at the tourist attraction being left alone with the animal.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Qazi of Cumbria Police said yesterday human error could not be ruled out, but dismissed reports Ms McClay may have committed suicide.

He indicated the death could have resulted from a failure of the park's protocols.

Mr Qazi said: "What has become apparent from our inquiries, and with witnesses, is that Sarah was going about her routine duties and was in the staff section of the enclosure, which animals are not allowed access to, when a tiger has entered it from an adjacent pen and confronted her.

"There is no suggestion of any foul play, or any issue of suicide or self-harm from the inquiries we have made. I don't know where that came from."

He said the enclosure building had four animal pens all accessed from a staff area, where among other things cleaning equipment is stored. He added it had become evident Ms McClay was in the staff area when the tiger entered it and confronted her.

The detective refused to comment on whether locks were undone or what led to the tiger entering the area. He added: "The inquiry is working towards this being either some kind of human error, for example, by Sarah, some error in the system that's employed where the doors are opened or perhaps there may be a mechanical failing in the door, or it could be a combination of any of these.

At the weekend, owner David Gill claimed Ms McClay died because she made an error of judgment and broke the park's protocols. His comments appear to have led to reports she committed suicide.

He wrote on Facebook: "Somehow or other those safety protocols those procedures have been bypassed and, for some reason that we don't know, Sarah has made a decision to do something that was not on her agenda. And then without notifying anybody and without any warning she's undone three locks, a padlock and two bolts and opened a door and walked straight into the tigers.".

Mr Gill had said Ms McClay was an experienced staff member who had worked with big cats and was passionate about her job.

He described her as bubbly and happy and said her death was a tragedy for her family and all of the staff.

After the attack the park was closed early and visitors evacuated from the area. It reopened on Saturday.

Mr Gill said: "The public was not at risk and we followed all our accident procedures to the letter.

"We had a meeting of all staff at 5.30pm and asked what they wanted. There was a huge consensus of opinion that we carry on. It would not do any good to close the park, as there is no safety issue."

Ms McClay's brother Stephen said the family had been hurt by suggestions she had died because of keeper error and a bad error of judgment.

"These are unsubstantiated claims by a man with an obvious axe to grind," he said.

"My family and I feel his comments are ill-advised, premature and disrespectful.

"He is laying the blame squarely at her door before the official police inquiries have begun. It has caused hurt to our family."