A zookeeper in Uzbekistan tragically lost his life after being attacked and eaten by three lions he was attempting to recapture at a private zoo called the Lion Park. The keeper, identified as F. Iriskulov, was recorded on video unlocking the lions’ enclosure during his night shift. Initially, the lions appeared calm as he approached, but suddenly one of them bit his arm, leading to a fatal outcome.
When other zoo staff arrived the next morning, they found Iriskulov’s remains in the lion cage while the lions were roaming free. Two of the lions were tranquilized and captured, but the third had to be euthanized after the incident. The zoo confirmed that the lions had killed and partially consumed the keeper.
This tragic event is not an isolated incident, as another zookeeper in Thailand was also fatally attacked by lions in front of horrified onlookers at Safari World in Bangkok. Witnesses described how the lions pounced on the keeper as he exited his vehicle, with the attack only ceasing when zoo officials intervened with guns, too late to save the victim.
These incidents serve as stark reminders of the dangers faced by zookeepers working closely with wild animals and the importance of strict safety protocols in such environments.
