Nordin Montong, 32, was known by co-workers for his erratic behavior and mood swings. But no one could expect his suicide - by climbing into a tiger enclosure at the Singapore zoo.
"Goodbye, I won't be seeing you again."
Those were the Malaysian cleaner's last words uttered to a co-worker at the Singapore Zoo before he rode away on his bike to take his own life.
For reasons unclear, Montong appeared depressed during lunch time and was ripping food coupons up and hissing to himself.
A short while after, at around 12:15 pm, witnesses watched in horror as he overcame a 1.2m barrier and jumped into the 10m wide moat of a white tiger exhibit.
He proceeded to 'taunt' the big cats, waving a pail and brooms. Three 100 kg albino tigers pounced, bit his neck and dragged him to the back of the enclosure.
Around 20 zoo keepers rushed to the scene when the alarm was raised to usher the crowds away and lure the tigers back to their dens.
But it was too late by the time zoo vets reached Montong. He was pronounced dead within minutes when paramedics arrived. The death was classified as "unnatural" and investigations are ongoing.
The zoo authorities said that this was the first incident of its kind, and emphasized that the enclosure meets safety standards.
Isabel Cheng, director of sales and marketing at the zoo said: "Our exhibits are designed to be safe, but if someone wants to deliberately get in, they will find a way."
The last safety check for the enclosure was Sep 11.
Still, the exhibit is currently closed to facilitate investigations.
