Lion Keeper Mauled to Death by Lions After Entering Enclosure to ‘Impress Girlfriend’

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – In a horrific incident, an animal keeper at Lion Park in Uzbekistan was mauled to death by three lions after entering their enclosure. The man, identified as F. Iriskulov, 44, reportedly entered the cage to “impress his girlfriend,” according to local reports.

Security footage captured the chilling events. Iriskulov, ignoring safety protocols, unlocked the cage door at 5:00 AM and entered the enclosure where three lions were resting. He repeatedly called out to the lions, attempting to goad them, while filming himself on his phone.

Initially, the lions appeared unfazed. However, as Iriskulov approached, they became agitated. The footage shows the lions pacing and sniffing the man.

Tragically, after two minutes, one of the lions attacked, biting Iriskulov’s arm. The man screamed in pain as the phone fell to the ground. The recording continued to capture the man’s screams and the lions’ growls as they attacked.

When other zoo workers arrived four hours later, they discovered Iriskulov’s mutilated remains within the enclosure. Two of the lions were tranquilized and recaptured, while the third had to be shot dead.

The zoo released a statement confirming the incident, stating, “The lions killed him and partially consumed his body.”

The Uzbek Department of Internal Affairs issued a statement assuring the public that there was no danger to the local population.