Lion Kills Man, Escapes And Wanders Around Zoo, Shot Dead After

Police in China have shot a lion dead after it killed a man, Xinhua News Agency reports. The Sunday attack on the trainer in Shandong Province is the country’s second case recorded, reports stated.

According to the staff at Taian Tiger Mountain Park, the attack took place around 6:20 a.m. on Sunday, when the 65-year-old trainer walked inside the lion’s cage to clean it up. After the large feline killed its keeper, it escaped from its cage and wandered about the zoo for more than an hour, official reports say.

Chinese media did not mention how the lion was able to escape from the cage. BBC reports that steel barriers were placed at the zoo’s entrance, while the staff and visitors that morning were evacuated. The park resumed operation in the afternoon.

The zoo then called the police to have the lion shot dead to ensure safety of the zoo visitors. While sympathy was given to zookeepers, many people questioned the necessity of killing the lion, according to BBC News.

Taian Tiger Mountain Park is home to different animals such as deer, camels and pigs that are placed in wire cages. BBC also reports that a Chinese news portal reporter discovered the cages to be in a rotting condition. There were concerns surrounding zoo management in Taishan, inlcuding animals living in poor conditions and enclosures posing safety problems for the visitors.

The park official told reporters that necessary repairs will be carried out. With regards to safety of zookeepers, Xinhua News reports that zookeepers and cleaners should observe proper protocols to isolate carnivores whenever clean-up and maintenance is on-going.

Another animal attack in a China zoo was reported in March this year. A zookeeper was killed by a tiger in Jiangxi province zoo while he was cleaning its enclosure. Reports said that the tiger was tranquilised and the zoo was closed following the tragedy.

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