China zoo tiger kills six-year-old girl

BEIJING, Feb 23 (Reuters) A tiger attacked a six-year-old girl, waiting to have her picture taken with the animal at a zoo in southwest China, biting her head and killing her, state media said today.

The accident happened yesterday in the picturesque province of Yunnan at the height of the Spring Festival holiday when families gather to celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year.

''The accident occurred when the girl was standing behind the tiger together with her mother and four other relatives waiting to take pictures with the tiger,'' Xinhua news agency said.

''When cameras flashed in front of the tiger, it suddenly turned round and bit (the girl) in the head.'' The tiger also bit the girl's mother on her hand when she attempted to rescue her daughter, Xinhua said, quoting witnesses.

Animal trainers repeatedly hit the tiger with sticks and wooden stools until rescuing the girl, but she died later in hospital.

Reuters SSC DB1034