The university said the lion has now been euthanized. (representative picture)
A zookeeper who cared for lions for nearly a decade has been killed by a big cat at a Nigerian university.according to British Broadcasting CorporationOlabode Olawuyi heads the zoo at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He was attacked while feeding the lions on Monday. His colleagues tried to save him, but by the time they could do anything, one of the lions had fatally wounded him, the university said in a statement. The lion has now been euthanized, the statement added.
University spokesman Abiodun Olarewaju said Mr Olaoui, a veterinary technologist, had been caring for the lions “since they were born on campus about nine years ago. lion”. exit.
“Sadly, the male lions killed the people who fed them. We will never know what happened to the male lion, which had to attack [him],” Mr. Olarewaju said.
The vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Simon Bamil, said he was “saddened” by the incident and ordered a thorough investigation.
Separately, student union leader Abbas Akinremi called the incident unfortunate and said the attack was caused by “human error” as the zookeeper forgot to lock the door after feeding the lions . Mr Akinremi also paid tribute to Mr Olawuyi. He said he was a “kind and humble man who took good care of us whenever we went to the zoo.”
Abba Gandu, who has been feeding lions at a zoo in Kano, northern Nigeria, for more than 50 years, also called the incident unfortunate and said more safety measures were needed. “It doesn’t affect me personally in any way because feeding lions is something I want to do until I die,” Mr Gandu said. He added that his worst experience was when he was trying to feed a lion. A baboon bit his finger.
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Following the incident, Nigerians also shared images of the assault at the Osun State University on social media. The university community is mourning.according to British Broadcasting Corporationa delegation also visited Mr. Olawuyi’s family to express their condolences.
At the same time, similar incidents also occurred in India, A man was mauled to death by a lion At Tirupati Zoo. Sri Venkateswara Zoo authorities said the man, 38-year-old Prahlad Gujjar from Alwar in Rajasthan, entered after entering an unauthorized area not open to the public fence. He reportedly ignored warnings from guards to back off, climbed the more than 25-foot-tall fence and jumped into the fence. Before the caretakers could take action, the lion, named Dongalpur, mauled Gujjar to death.
