Officials said a zookeeper was attacked and killed by a lion while taking people to see a feeding session after the wildlife park closed.
Babaji Daure, 35, a trained lion keeper, arrived at Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park on Saturday despite arriving after hours, the park's caretaker. Bitten on the neck after agreeing to let a guest into the enclosure. told Daily Post Nigeria.
“Zoo keepers apparently felt safe with the animal and kept the security gate open and continued to feed the animal,” the administrator said.
“He was attacked by an animal and died on the spot.”
The lion was shot to “prevent further mutilation of the body,” the administrator said.
“It is important to state that this activity is completely outside the park's standard feeding routine,” the wildlife park stressed in a statement.
It was not immediately clear whether Daule had permission to bring guests inside the closure when it was supposed to be closed.
In any case, he “inadvertently neglected to lock and barricade the lion's enclosure before approaching the enclosure to feed the animal,” said police spokesperson Omolola Odutola. said in a statement.
“Due to this negligence, the lion escaped and attacked the handler, which resulted in the handler sustaining fatal neck injuries and ultimately dying,” Odutola said.
“The wild lion was shot in an attempt to get it out of the hands of its trainer.
The management of the wildlife park has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring the safety of its employees, visitors and the animals themselves, Daily Post Nigeria reported.
