A private memorial service is to be held in Whangarei this morning for
a zoo keeper mauled to death at the Zion Wildlife
Gardens.
The body of 26-year-old South African Dalu Mncube
was returned to the park on Sunday so the ceremony can go ahead
today.
It is restricted to family and close friends and
work colleagues, and it was reported at the weekend that the organisers want the
wildlife park's former boss Craig Busch to stay away.
He
has been locked out since a bitter dispute blew up with his mother over
ownership of the complex.
The issue was before the
Employment Relations Authority when Mr Mncube was attacked by a 260kg white
tiger last week.
Meanwhile, friends of Mr Mncube revealed
yesterday he had told them he wanted to be buried in South Africa if anything
happened to him, and they have launched an appeal to cover the $12,000 cost of
returning his body home.
RadioLIVE