Lions maul and kill man who climbed into zoo enclosure to steal their cubs

A group of lions killed a man in Ghana who climbed into their enclosure yesterday, 28 August.

The incident occurred in the capital city of Accra and police are said to be investigating.

While the individual has not been identified, he's been described as a middle-aged man.

Forestry Commission

The intruder was said to have scaled a 10-foot fence and a further 20-foot fence to enter the enclosure.

Inside the enclosure was one lion, a lioness, and their two cubs, which have been a huge draw to the public since their birth as they were born with leucism, which makes their fur appear white.

Officials suspect the man was attempting to steal the white lion cubs but was attacked and died from his injuries.

His body was collected and taken to a morgue, with an investigation being opened into the incident.

Forestry Commission

Police said: "We're investigating the case to establish how the man got into the restricted area."

While the zoo has temporarily closed its doors, the Forestry Commission confirmed the attack, saying: "Around 12:00 hours today 28th August 2022, officials of the Accra Zoo on a routine patrol, noticed a middle aged man (an intruder) had jumped the security fences and entered the lions' enclosure of the zoo. The motive of the intruder is yet to be determined."

The Forestry Commission went on to add: "The intruder was attacked and injured by one of the lions, within the inner fencing of the enclosure. The intruder has been confirmed dead from injuries sustained and the body has been conveyed to the morgue."

Forestry Commission

Zoo authorities said that they were able to successfully coax the lions into a secure hold so that police could commence investigations.

The commission confirmed that the lion, lioness, and two cubs remained secure in the zoo and that no lion has escaped.

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Benito Owusu Bio said: "The lions have cubs so if you come too close they may feel you are trying to take away their babies."

He added: "We ask the public to desist from doing anything like this."

The Accra zoo was established in the 1960s as a private menagerie by president Kwame Nkrumah. Following Nkrumah being overthrown, the zoo was opened to the public.

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