Police shot dead a lion at a zoo in East China's Shandong province, after the king of the jungle bit a staff worker, local media Qilu Evening News reported.

The incident happened in a zoo near Taishan Mountain at about 6:30 pm on Sunday. A tourist on the condition of anonymity said he heard about seven shots.

According to reports the lion bit the shoulder and neck of a 60-year-old employee. The police was then called to the scene and killed the lion.

The injured worker failed to recover from the injuries and died.

The zoo has now suspended its operation and an investigation is underway.

It is the second case this month when a zoo worker has been mauled to death in China.

Earlier this month, a tiger pounced and bit a zookeeper surnamed Gong in East China's Jiangxi province. The tiger was finally driven away by other staff workers and subdued with tranquilizers.

Despite treatment, Gong died about an hour after the attack.