A rare endangered feline was killed after a cleaner attempted to get close.

A tiger was shot dead at a zoo in Florida on Wednesday after he bit one of the contractors the zoo hired.

The man, whom a third-party company employed, "entered an unauthorized area near a tiger that was inside its enclosure. The cleaning company is responsible for cleaning restrooms and the gift shop, not the animal enclosures," stated a spokesperson for Naples Zoo.

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The four-year-old Malayan tiger, named Eko, grabbed the man's arm and "pulled it into the enclosure" after the man "traversed an initial fence barrier and put his arm through the fencing," the zoo claims. Officials from the zoo claim that the man had attempted to either feed or pet the tiger. The zoo stated that such actions are "unauthorized and dangerous."

Deputies were called to the zoo and attempted to get the tiger to release the man's arm. The deputy was forced to shoot the animal, the zoo stated.

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The man, who remains unnamed, has been transported to a local hospital for treatment. The tiger, who was initially sedated after being shot, has died, reports WINK News.

Malayan tigers are considered critically endangered, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Scientists estimate that there are only 150 Malayan tigers left in the wild and 70-80 Malayans in captivity.