SOUTHWOLD, Ontario, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A Canadian exotic animal owner has been mauled to death by a 650-pound Siberian tiger he kept at his home, authorities say.
Ontario Provincial Police say Norman Buwalda, 66, of Southwold, Ontario, died Sunday as he entered the animal's cage to feed it, The Globe and Mail reported.
Authorities were aware Buwalda -- chairman of the Canadian Exotic Animal Owner's Association -- kept exotic animals on his property, the newspaper said. They were alerted by a family member who found Buwalda's body, and upon arrival pronounced him dead at the scene.
The Globe and Mail said a 10-year-old Toronto boy survived a tiger mauling at Buwalda's property in 2004, sustaining serious neck and head injuries.
"We believe the animals are there legally," Constable Troy Carlson said. "We went through this back then (in 2004) as far as exotic animals. And back then, the case was, well, the animals are there legally."
The tiger remained in its cage on the property Monday, Carlson said.
Southwold Deputy Mayor Stan Lidster told the newspaper the township lost a court case that would have forced Buwalda to get rid of his exotic animals.
