A 35-year-old zookeeper at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Babaji Daule, has been killed by a lion he was feeding.
According to the management of the OOPL Wildlife Park, the incident occurred on Saturday.
The Bauchi State-born lion handler was said to have forgotten to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.
This reportedly allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in injuries to his neck and eventual death.
The victim’s 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.
According to the statement, the zookeeper had volunteered to take some guests who had visited the facility after official hours, but was reportedly “careless” in handling the lion’s cage.
The statement reads: “The zookeeper, at the heeding of some guests who came after the closing time of the park, agreed to take the guests to demonstrate the feeding routine of the lion in its inner enclosure.
“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.”
The management of the facility described the conduct of the zookeeper as below the standard of its practice.
“It is important to state that this activity (by the zookeeper) fell completely out of the standard feeding routine of the park. Investigations have begun, and the matter has since been reported to the police for their investigation.
The management also commiserated with the family of the deceased, even as it assured the public that “the park is committed to the highest standard of safety and protection both for visiting members of the public, wildlife staff and for the Wildlife itself.”