A zookeeper was fatally mauled by a lion on Saturday evening, at a wildlife park in south-western Nigeria, after failing to secure the enclosure locks during feeding, according to BBC news.
The 35-year-old man, Babaji Daule, was employed at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park, owned by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.According to local police spokesperson Omolola Odutola, Daule suffered “serious fatal injuries to the neck” after the lion attacked him.
The event occurred when Daule led a group of guests to witness the lion’s feeding routine. In an official statement, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library revealed that the zookeeper had left the protective gate open, feeling “comfortable” around the animal. This lapse led to the fatal attack.
“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,” the statement said.
Authorities immediately intervened, shooting the lion to release its grip and prevent further damage to Daule’s body. “To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by personnel of the park,” the park officials confirmed.
Daule, described as a trained lion handler, was the second Nigerian zookeeper to be killed by a lion within the past year. The earlier incident occurred at Obafemi Awolowo University, also in southwestern Nigeria, raising concerns about the country’s safety regulations and management practices for handling wild animals in captivity.