"Lion Man" Craig Busch today said he feared for the future of the Northland wildlife park where a handler was killed by a tiger on Wednesday.
Mr Busch, who is involved in a hearing in the Employment Relations Authority over his dismissal from the Zion Wildlife Gardens in Whangarei, also said he was on stand-by to return to help out.
The park remains closed after the death of its most experienced big-cat handler, Dalu Mncube, who was attacked while cleaning the tiger enclosure.
The tiger, Abu, was shot dead by staff.
Mr Busch said he knew Mr Mncube well and described his death as "a terrible personal tragedy" for him.
He also described the shooting of Abu, an animal he had raised from a young age, as a tragedy.
He expressed concerned about the park's future, citing safety issues, the way it was managed and the well-being of the animals.
Asked if Mr Mncube had been equipped to deal with animals there, he said: "I think there needs to be more experience."
As to whether the incident would have happened on his watch, he replied: "I don't know because I was not there. It is being investigated right now."
But he added: "The best person to handle those animals is right here, you're looking at him.
"There are not many people experienced to be able to handle these guys.
"I'm here on stand-by ready to go to help on these matters, like I have always have been."
Mr Busch also said that, apart from the ERA hearing, which has been adjourned because of Mr Mncube's death, he was taking other legal action.
He said this would be in the form of civil proceedings which would be lodged over the coming week regarding a contractual matter.
NZPA