Tourists watch in horror as lion kills zookeeper after he makes huge mistake

The lion was killed after the attack (Image: undefined)

Holidaymakers looked on in terror as a zookeeper was savaged to death by a lion after making a catastrophic error.

Lion handler Babaji Daule, 35, was demonstrating the big cat's feeding routine to visitors at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Nigeria, on September 28, 2024, when the horror unfolded.

He was "feeling comfortable" with the beast and left the safety protection gate open.

The lion then pounced on him and delivered fatal injuries to his neck, killing the zookeeper instantly.

Park staff immediately shot the animal dead to prevent it from ripping his body apart, reports the Mirror.

Trained lion handler Babaji Daule, 35, was working at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Nigeria (Image: Wikipedia)

All of this happened before horrified spectators who were touring the wildlife section of the library complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Abeokuta.

It remains unclear whether Mr Daule had authorisation to escort the visitors into the enclosure when it was meant to be shut.

Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola said that he "carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade the lion's enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal".

He added: "This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler's neck and eventual death. The wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler."

He also confirmed officers had begun an investigation into how the tragedy occurred. The park's management revealed the attack took place "outside the approved feeding routine" and confirmed that the body had been transported to the local mortuary, according to the Daily Post Nigeria.

The OOPL expressed their deepest sympathies to Babaji's family and emphasised that the safety of staff, visitors, and animals is their utmost priority.

Several months on, a German businessman and philanthropist was tragically killed by a lioness during a safari trip in Namibia. Bernd Kebbel, 59, was camping alongside his wife and a group of friends near the Hoanib River in the country.

On the morning of Friday, May 30, 2025, he stepped out of the tent to use the toilet when he was attacked by the lioness. Despite the group's efforts to frighten off the animal, Bernd's injuries were already too severe.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism later confirmed that the lioness involved in the attack had been euthanised. Mr Kebbel was previously the owner of the Offroad Centre, a company specialising in supplies for offroad vehicles, as reported by The Namibian.