A zookeeper in Nigeria was mauled to death by a lion after he failed to secure the lock on the zoo’s enclosure when he went to feed it. according to BBCThe victim has been identified as Babaji Daulay, a 35-year-old man who worked at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park, owned by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta. He was bitten in the neck on Saturday after agreeing to take guests to the enclosure, even though they were to arrive at the wildlife park after hours.
According to the outlet, park management said in a statement, “Apparently, the zookeeper felt comfortable with the animal, left the safety gate open and began feeding the animal. The animal crushed him and his chest.” But he died.”
Separately, local police spokesman Omolola Odutola said that “the lion inflicted serious non-fatal injuries on the man’s neck”. He said the lion was shot “to release its hold on the handler”.
“It is important to point out that this activity is completely outside the park’s standard feeding routine,” the wildlife park stressed in its statement.
Police described the 35-year-old man as a trained lion handler. It is unclear whether Mr Dooley had permission to have guests inside when it was due to be closed. Either way, he “was negligent in securing the locks and barricades of the lion enclosure before going near the cage to feed the animal,” Mr Odutola said.
He further added, “This carelessness allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and ultimately his death. The wild lion was shot after it released its hold on the handler ”
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The management of the wildlife park expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, and reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring the safety of its staff, visitors and the animals themselves. New York Post Informed.
Meanwhile, the incident comes less than a year after another zookeeper was attacked and killed by a lion at Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University. Olabode Olawuyi was a veterinary technologist who had been caring for the lions at the compound since their birth about nine years ago. Tragically, in February one of the male lions killed the man while he was feeding them. Her colleagues tried to save her but by the time they could do anything, one of the lions had already fatally injured her, the university said in a statement.
