Zookeeper Mauled by Lion Who Cared it for Nine Years

In a tragic incident at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria, Olabode Olawuyi, a seasoned zookeeper with almost a decade of experience, was fatally attacked by a lion while feeding the big cats.

Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist, had been caring for the lions since their birth on the campus about nine years ago. Despite efforts by his colleagues to rescue him, one of the lions had already inflicted fatal injuries by the time they intervened. The university, in a statement, confirmed that the lion responsible for the attack had been euthanized.

The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed sorrow over the incident and ordered a thorough investigation. The students’ union leader, Abbas Akinremi, attributed the attack to “human error,” stating that the zookeeper had forgotten to lock the door after feeding the lions. Akinremi paid tribute to Olawuyi, describing him as a “good and humble man” who had treated students well during their visits to the zoo.

Meanwhile, in a similar incident in India at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, a 38-year-old man named Prahlad Gujjar was mauled to death by a lion named Dongalpur. Gujjar had entered an unauthorized section not open to the public, ignoring warnings from a caretaker. Climbing a fence over 25 feet tall, he jumped into the lion enclosure. Despite efforts by the caretaker, the lion attacked Gujjar before he could be rescued.