Babaji Daule, a 35-year-old experienced lion handler, worked at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, located in Nigeria’s Ogun state.
On the evening of Saturday, September 28, Babaji had taken a group of visitors after regular hours to give them a special look at the lion’s feeding routine.
According to a statement from police spokesperson Omolala Odutola, “The lion inflicted serious fatal injuries to the man’s neck.”
Officers had to act quickly to stop the attack. They ended up shooting the lion to free the handler from its grip.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) also issued a statement, saying, “To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by personnel of the park.”
The statement explained: “The zookeeper, apparently, feeling comfortable with the animal, left the safety protection gate open and proceeded to feed the animal. He was mauled by the animal and died on the spot.”
This tragic incident has raised concerns over the safety regulations and management of zoos that house dangerous animals. Many are now questioning how these parks handle interactions with such wildlife to prevent future tragedies.
The zoo is home to more than 140 different indigenous and exotic animals. Its primary mission is to promote wildlife conservation and educate the public about the importance of preserving the natural world, as well as serving as a tourist attraction.
More details about the event were shared in a police statement:
“On September 28, 2024, at about 7:40 hrs [p.m. local time] the Chief Security Officer of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library informed the divisional police officer that a 35-year-old man named Babaji Daule from Bauchi State, who is a trained handler of a male lion at the Zoological Garden in OOPL Abeokuta, tragically lost his life.”
