A zookeeper was mauled to death by a lion at a wildlife park in Nigeria after he apparently failed to secure the locks on the animal’s enclosure during feeding time.
According to multiple media reports out of the African nation, on Saturday night, a zookeeper named Babaji Daule was killed by a lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park in the Ogun State capital city of Abeokuta. Per the BBC News, which cites local outlets including the Daily Post Nigeria and the Daily Independent, Daule was 35 years old when he was killed by the lion at the wildlife park.
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As reported by those outlets, Daule — who hailed from Nigeria’s Bauchi State — apparently took a few guests to see the lion’s feeding routine after the zoo had closed for the night. In a statement released by the OOPL, they indicated that the keeper appeared to have left a critical safety protection gate open during feeding:
“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.”
Sadly, the animal was then put down “immediately” by other personnel in the park who arrived on scene to deal with the awful situation:
“To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by personnel of the park.”
The OOPL also wanted it definitively known that the incident “fell completely outside” the standard and agreed-upon feeding protocols within the park:
“It is important to state that this activity fell completely outside the standard feeding routine of the park.”
Wow.
A local police spokesperson named Omolola Odutola also confirmed the attack to reporters on scene, as well.
Related: Trainer ATTACKED By Tiger As Zoo Vistors Watch!
He indicated that the victim Daule died from “fatal injuries” to his neck during the lion attack:
“On September 28, 2024, at about 7:40 hrs [p.m. local time] the Chief Security Officer of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library informed the divisional police officer that a 35-year-old man named Babaji Daule from Bauchi State, who is a trained handler of a male lion at the Zoological Garden in OOPL Abeokuta, tragically lost his life. … [The body] was removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.”
So scary. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Daule’s family, friends, and loved ones amid this truly awful situation.
[Image via Universal Pictures/YouTube]
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