Cat handler's family push orphan's case

MAULED: Zion Wildlife senior big cat handler Dalu Mncube died after being mauled by one of the animals he cared for.

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The family of the big-cat handler killed at the Zion Wildlife Gardens is taking legal advice on seeking compensation for his young son abandoned in South Africa.

Six-year-old Darlington was left in South Africa when his father Dalu Mncube came to New Zealand.

Mncube, who was mauled to death by a white tiger at Zion in May 2009, also left behind a two- year-old daughter, Starskea, to his Whangarei-based partner, Sharon Arnott. She is benefiting from a fund set up in New Zealand to help the family. But Darlington, whose mother has also died, is getting nothing.

Darlington's uncle Warren said the boy refuses to accept his father is dead, as he often sees him on reruns of the international TV hit in which Mncube featured alongside Zion founder Craig Busch, known as The Lion Man.

Warren, speaking from his home in Johannesburg, said the family were investigating their legal rights to a slice of the Dalu Mncube Family Trust and possible reparation from Department of Labour action.

Charges against Zion of failing to ensure the safety of employees will be heard this month in the Whangarei District Court. If found guilty, Zion could face a fine of up to $500,000, including an order for reparation to Mncube's family.

"I am seeking legal advice," Warren said. "Monies would help with his [Darlington's] education, to get him educated and into a better school."

A spokeswoman from Zion said all funds in the Dalu Mncube Family Trust are overseen by Whangarei law firm Henderson Reeves.

"As much as we would love to see money getting to all his children, it is out of our hands," she said.

Money from the fund had been paid into an account for Starskea.

A source said one issue with Darlington was uncertainty over his legal guardianship. It also needed to be confirmed that any money would go directly to him.

Warren said he appreciated the park helping to raise money to send Dalu's body home, but since then there had been little communication or an apology.

"Nobody has said 'we are really sorry that you lost somebody'. We have never had anything and it is so painful for us to speak about it," he said.

"It is like after they sent him back to Africa they went, 'OK, we are done with everything'."

He said his brother had promised to look after the family in Africa. "He would say 'things are now looking up for me - I will look after you'. Unfortunately, life was too short for him to fulfil his dreams."

Warren said the family appreciated the regular contact from Busch.

He is currently in Africa working on a new big-cat reality show.

- NZPA