A zookeeper recorded his own desperate final moments before being mauled and partially eaten by a group of lions at a private zoo, in a horrific incident believed to have been an attempt to impress his girlfriend.
The Fatal Morning Shift
The tragedy occurred at the Lion Park, a private zoo in Parkent, Uzbekistan. The animal keeper, 44-year-old F. Iriskulov, was on a night shift in December 2024 when three lions escaped into a courtyard. At around 5am, Iriskulov filmed himself unlocking a padlock to the area in an attempt to recapture the animals.
In the chilling footage, the three lions initially appear calm as the keeper approaches. The situation rapidly deteriorates as the big cats become agitated, pacing and sniffing. Iriskulov is heard repeatedly calling one lion by the name "Simba" and instructing it to "be quiet".
A Sudden and Brutal Attack
After approximately two minutes, one of the lions suddenly clamps its jaws onto the man's arm, prompting a yell of pain. The phone falls to the ground, but the audio continues to capture the zookeeper's bloodcurdling screams and the lions' growls. His final, futile commands of "Be quiet, be quiet" are heard before the footage cuts out.
Four hours later, colleagues arriving for the morning shift discovered the grim scene. Iriskulov's partially consumed remains were found inside the cage, with the three lions still loose. In the ensuing operation, zoo staff tranquillised two of the animals, but the third lion was shot dead.
Official Statements and a History of Tragedy
An official statement from the Lion Park confirmed the grim outcome: "The lions killed him and partially consumed his body." Regional police also issued a report detailing the escape from a single cage and the subsequent fatal attack on the 44-year-old keeper.
This is not an isolated incident in the world of big cat care. In a similarly tragic event, a zookeeper at Safari World in Bangkok, Thailand, was eaten alive by lions in front of horrified tourists. Professor Tavatchai Kanchanarin, a witness, described how a lion grabbed the keeper from behind as he exited his jeep, with several others joining the attack. The assault only ceased when officials arrived with guns, but it was too late to save the man's life.
These devastating events highlight the inherent dangers of working with captive predators and raise serious questions about safety protocols and risk management in private zoos and wildlife parks around the world.
