Two people have been left dead after big cat attacks at zoos over the weekend.

A six-year-old girl died after being attacked by a tiger at a zoo in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan.

According to the government news agency Xinhua, the girl was having her picture taken with the tiger alongside her family when the animal unexpectedly turned and bit her on the head.

Reports suggest that the attack was brought on by the flashing cameras.

The accident came on the same day as a zookeeper was attacked and killed by a jaguar at the Denver Zoo in the US.

In a statement, a zoo spokesperson said: “One of the staff was attacked by a male jaguar inside a contained keeper service area at the Feline Building.

“Staff immediately responded to the exhibit with weapons and after the jaguar approached staff trying to assist the zookeeper, the animal was shot and killed.

“The injured zookeeper was transported to Denver Health via ambulance but died later at the hospital.”

The incident occurred within the doorway of the exhibit and secure service area of the Feline Building and according to zoo staff the public was not in any danger at any time. The zoo was closed after the incident.