The big cat, called Millan, bit through the neck of the man – aged between 25 and 30 – when he unlocked the entrance to the beast’s cage at a private zoo in Moscow, Russia.

Shocked staff found the victim’s mutilated body inside the animal’s cage.

Disturbing images have shown the man’s bloodied body after the attack.

A major hunt was launched to find the beast – which was roaming free for “several hours” before it was captured by authorities.

Initial reports suggested that the man who was killed was a zoo keeper, because he appeared to be wearing a uniform.

But the zoo’s millionaire owner Sergey Knyaginichev claimed the man was a visitor from Ukraine who entered the cage without permission.

Knyaginichev claims the man was drunk.

The attack was at a private zoo which has been running for 10 years in the village of Obnovlenny Trud in the Istra district.

The Investigative Committee – which deals with serious crimes in Russia – said a probe has been launched into the accident.

"The man wanted to feed the animal and the panther attacked him when he entered the cage," said a spokesman.

A TV report five years ago said his the zoo owner’s wife Yelena’s lion had terrorised the local village.

The report claimed residents were nervous about dangers from the big cats in the private zoo