A ZOOKEEPER was mauled to death by a lion after he left a gate open while feeding the beast in front of horrified guests.
Trained lion handler Babaji Daule, 35, was working at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Nigeria, when the grim attack took place.
A photo shows one of the zoo’s lions on its website but it’s currently unclear which big cat mauled the zookeeper
The zoo said that Babaji was showing guests the lion’s feeding routine late on Saturday when “the lion inflicted serious fatal injuries to the man’s neck”.
Local cop spokesperson Omolola Odutola told local journalists: “The zookeeper, apparently, feeling comfortable with the animal, left the safety protection gate open and proceeded to feed the animal.
“He was mauled by the animal and died on the spot.”
Ms Odutola explained that the killer animal was later put down by staff at the park “to prevent further mutilation of the body”, reports BBC News.
She said the zookeeper was pronounced dead at around 7.40am on September 28.
His body was moved to a mortuary at the Ijaye General Hospital, she told the Daily Post Nigeria.
Management at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park have expressed their condolences to Babaji’s family and stressed that safety for staff, visitors, and animals is their top priority.
The zoo is part of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library which is named after its owner who was president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
WikipediaThe zoo complex where Babaji died was part of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, named after its owner, a former president of Nigeria[/caption]
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