Zookeeper mauled to death by lions when he enters cage to impress girlfriend

A devastating accident at a private zoo in Parkent, Uzbekistan, has left a 44-year-old zookeeper dead after being attacked by lions.

According to the reports presented by various online media sources, the tragic event, which unfolded on December 17, has

raised serious concerns about safety protocols at animal parks and the dangers of working closely with wild animals.

According to the reports, the incident began in the early morning hours, around 5 a.m., when F. Iriskulov, a zookeeper at the Lion Park, decided to make a video of himself interacting with the zoo’s lions. His goal was to impress his girlfriend by showing off his bond with the animals. Iriskulov, who was working the night shift, unlocked the lion enclosure and entered it to film the lions.

In the video, Iriskulov is seen calmly approaching the lions. He speaks to one of them by name, calling it “Simba,” and even tells it to “stay quiet” while gently stroking its mane. 

Initially, everything appeared to be under control. However, things took a horrific turn when one of the lions suddenly attacked, as per media sources.

According to the sources, as Iriskulov continued to film, the calm demeanor of the lions quickly changed. One of

them lunged at him, and his attempts to calm the animal were futile.  In the video, Iriskulov can be heard shouting, “Be quiet, be quiet,” as he tries to protect himself. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. The attack was swift and violent, and the zookeeper suffered severe injuries.

The video, unintentionally filmed by Iriskulov himself, captured his final moments. His desperate cries for the lion to quiet down are chilling, and the footage documents the tragic end of his life, as per the reports. 

As per sources, local authorities have confirmed the attack and released a statement about the incident.

According to the police, three lions housed in the same cage escaped into the zoo's courtyard. 

An international media outlet reads, “Today, December 17, three lions kept in a single cage at the Lion Park private zoo, located in Parkent district of Tashkent Region, escaped into the zoo’s courtyard. The lions entered the courtyard, attacking and

injuring a 44-year-old keeper born in 1980. Unfortunately, the keeper later died from his injuries.”

Authorities are now investigating how the lions managed to escape their enclosure and whether the zoo's safety

procedures were adequate. The investigation is ongoing as officials try to understand what led to this tragic

event.