Zookeeper mauled to death by lion at feeding time as visitors looked on

A zookeeper has died after being attacked by a lion in front of horrified visitors at a zoo.

Babaji Daule was an experienced lion handler at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta in Nigeria's Ogun state.

According to reports, the 35-year-old had taken a group of visitors after hours to show them the lion's feeding routine on Saturday evening (September 28).

But tragically, during the demonstration the big cat attacked Babaji and mauled him to death.

A statement from police spokesperson Omolala Odutola said: "The lion inflicted serious fatal injuries to the man’s neck."

Officers had to shoot the lion in order to 'release its grip on the handler', with a statement from the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) saying: "To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by personnel of the park."

The statement went on to say that Babaji had left a safety protection gate open while feeding the animal.

The lion mauled the keeper to death (Paul A. Souders / Getty Stock Image)

It explained that he had done so as he had felt 'comfortable' around the lion.

The statement read: “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."

According to the Daily Post Nigeria, the OOPL said in a statement: "It is important to state that this activity fell completely outside the standard feeding routine of the park."

The attack has reportedly caused concern about the the regulation of zoos which handle dangerous animals.

In the case of the Presidential Library Wildlife Park, information on the park's website says: "Highlights of our Zoo’s collection are lions, spotted and striped hyenas, a Marabou Stork, pythons and a striking aviary that houses several species of fowl."

The tragedy raised questions about safety procedures (Nag Arjun / 500px / Getty Stock Image)

The zoo's website states that it houses more than 140 indigenous and exotic wild animals.

It explains that the zoo was founded as a way to encourage conservation of wildlife and to educate the public about the natural world, as well as being a way to promote tourism.

A police statement about the tragedy said: "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."

UNILAD has contacted OOPL for further comment.