A zookeeper filmed himself trying to recapture three lions that had escaped into a courtyard “to impress his girlfriend” before the wild animals suddenly attacked and ate him.
The man named as F Iriskulov, aged 44, is seen unlocking a padlock to the area at a private zoo, called the Lion Park, in Parkent, Uzbekistan at 5am during his night shift. In the clip it shows three lions which are looking quite relaxed to begin with and just watching him approach.
But suddenly they spring up and he steps back in evident surprise, yet still at this point the predators do not attack. He is heard repeatedly calling the name of one of the lions: “Simba.” Time and again he tells the wild animal: “Simba, be quiet.”
12 best pimple patches for clear skin in 2025
The zookeeper was trying to round up the lions
(
Image:
Will Stewart)
The lions didn’t attack at first
(
Image:
Will Stewart)
It is understood the lions had escaped their enclosure with a door left unlocked and had made their way into a courtyard where the zookeeper tried to recapture them and the tragedy happened. He made the video to give later to his girlfriend but about two minutes after unlocking the door to the courtyard the lions attacked.
He is heard screaming as he is apparently being bitten while his camera is still running. He continues to say: “Be quiet, be quiet.” The footage cuts but reports say that the lions then devoured the guard.
The lions had escaped from their enclosure
(
Image:
Will Stewart)
Rescuers tranquilised two of the lions, and shot the third dead. An official statement said: “The lions killed him and partially consumed his body.” The man’s remains were only found by other zooworkers four hours after the attack, it was revealed.
The regional police stated: “Today, December 17, three lions kept in a single cage at the Lion Park private zoo, located in the Parkent district of Tashkent Region, escaped into the zoo’s courtyard. […] The lions entered the yard, attacking and injuring a 44-year-old keeper born in 1980. Unfortunately, the keeper later died from his injuries.”
The Lion Park is home to various animals, including brown bears, eagles, 10 adult African lions, and five lion cubs. It was opened in 2019