A zookeeper has been mauled to death by a lion in southwestern Nigeria after he failed to secure the locks on its enclosure when he went to feed it, police say.
The victim, a 35-year-old man, worked at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park, owned by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state.
He said the lion was then shot to “release its grip on the handler”.
“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.
“To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by personnel of the park.”
It comes less than a year after another zookeeper was attacked and killed by a lion at the Obafemi Awolowo University, also in south-western Nigeria.
The incident has triggered concerns with people raising questions about the country’s regulations and management of zoos and handling of wild animals.
