Finlay Holden was stroking the six-month old Bengali tiger's back when it
turned around and grabbed his head between its paws.
The little boy was only saved after other holidaymakers and resort staff
throttled the growling animal and hit it over the head repeatedly with a
walkie-talkie.
His mother, Claire Holden, told how Finlay had screamed hysterically "Mum,
make it stop! Make it stop!" as they fought to save him.
"The whole thing was just awful," she said. "There were all
these people pulling at the tiger and it wouldn't let go. All I could do was
wrap my arms around Finlay and try to keep him calm."
She said that she, her daughter Hannah, three, and Finlay had gone to look at
Reno and Paris, the resort's two tigers, on Saturday morning. Also on the
lawn with the resort's handlers was a boa constrictor.
"I told Finlay he must be careful and not make any sudden movements
because all animals remain a bit wild," she said.
The website of the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa, which is situated in South
Africa's northern Limpopo province, says that visits can touch and
pose for photographs with the big cats.
"Even though they are cubs, you can come and witness their beauty, grace
and can see the power of these incredible felines," it boasts.
In Finlay's case, the description was all too apt.
"The animal's mouth was wide open above his head," Mrs Holden said. "My
child and I were covered in blood. My little daughter saw everything."
Finlay was left with deep cuts to his face, neck and throat and underwent
surgery on Sunday. "He's doing remarkably well considering," Mrs
Holden said. "We were lucky really - his jugular could easily have been
torn or he could have been scalped."
She said the resort should now reconsider letting big cats play with children. "I
don't blame the tiger and don't think it should be put down but they
shouldn't be doing what they are doing and if they are going to continue, it
needs to be with significantly smaller cubs."
Brenda Santon, Wildlife Manager for South Africa's Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, said it had repeatedly warned about the dangers of
letting humans play with wild animals. "These poor animals belong in
the wild and not in holiday resorts," she said.
Zebula Golf Estate and Spa has declined to comment.
