An elderly zookeeper was ripped to pieces and eaten by his own tigers when he went to feed them.

Mauro Lagiard, 72, was attacked from behind as he entered the enclosure at a closed-down zoo, near Turin, in northern Italy.

In a horrific scene he was dragged 100ft while his wife watched helplessly from outside the cage.

His dismembered body was later found by the tigers’ water trough, police said.

Mr Lagiard and his wife had cared for the tigers since the small animal sanctuary was closed down in 2010 at the peak of the economic crisis.

The couple lived on site near the tigers’ enclosure in a camper van.

The retired zoo keeper was ‘utterly fearless’ and devoted to the animals according to reports in the Italian media.

After hearing desperate screams his wife Carla called for medics.

But the 73-year-old, who walked with the help of two sticks, was powerless to come to her husband’s aid and could only watch in agony from outside the cage.

The tiger that attacked first was the one he loved the most, according to reports, even though the same animal had attacked him before two years ago causing him to spend eight months in hospital.

But neighbours said the animals were malnourished and aggressive. They were fed just twice a week.

They are currently in the care of vets while their fate is decided. Samir is likely to be put down, according to reports.