'She lived her dream': Funeral of tragic zookeeper mauled to death by a tiger held as it's confirmed attraction will re-open
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The funeral of tragic zookeeper Rosa King has been held in her home town as zoo bosses confirm they will be re-opening on Friday.
Mourners wearing colourful clothes in 'celebration of her life' gathered at St Andrew's Church, Chippenham, Wilts, for the 45 minute long service.
A wicker casket adorned with pink roses and daisies was then carried by six male pall-bearers to a waiting black Mercedes hearse before it left for a private family service.
Ms King was killed after being mauled by a tiger at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambs where she worked on May 29.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
(Photo: SWNS.com)
She is thought to have been fatally attacked while going to the aid of a fellow worker after one of the zoo's four tigers got into an insecure enclosure.
The opening of an inquest into her death heard she had died from 'traumatic injuries'.
Both Cambridge Police and Huntingdonshire District Council are currently carrying out an investigation into Rosa's death.
Hamerton Zoo is due to open its doors to the public for the first time on Friday following the tragedy.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
(Photo: SWNS.com)
In a statement earlier this week the zoo said the decision to re-open had been made with the full support of Rosa's family.
It said in a post on Facebook that the decision followed an inspection by Huntingdonshire District Council and was supported by Rosa's family.
It said in a statement: "Following an inspection by Huntingdonshire District Council, we can confirm that we will reopen to the public on Friday 16 June 2017. This decision has been supported by the family of Rosa King."
Rosa, 33, died when a tiger got into the enclosure where she was working and a full investigation is now underway.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
(Photo: SWNS.com)
Her parents, Peter and Andrea, said Rosa was a "dedicated professional" who had a "care and understanding of her animals."
They said at the time of her death: "Rosa was a dedicated professional when it came to her work. She lived and breathed a vocation that meant the world to her, living her dream.
"She had a care and understanding of her animals that was a joy and privilege to behold.
"Rosa was passionate about animals from the age of 2 when she first sat on the back of a horse. After that, her life was always going to be about animals.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
"She lived her life to the full and was a very caring, generous person. She would stand up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves including the animals and campaigned and raised money for animal charities.
"Rosa's whole attitude to the animal kingdom is probably best summed up in the following statement. When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul."
Visitors to the zoo were evacuated after the incident on May Bank Holiday Monday and it has remained closed since.
Hamerton Zoo Park is a 25-acre wildlife park with 500 animals from more than 100 different species, focusing on lemurs, cats and birds.
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The zoo has had notable breeding success with various endangered species and is rapidly expanding its collection with Malaysian tigers arriving in 2015.
It is also home to three white tigers.
The zoo also has an oncilla, Canadian lynx, cheetah, collared lemurs,
flamingo, racoons, meerkats, wallabies, a giant anteater and a two toed sloth.