Zookeeper in Nigeria killed by lion he raised from birth. Olabode Olawuyi, a veteran zookeeper, who had tended to lions for nearly a decade, met a tragic end at a Nigerian university. According to reports, Olawuyi, who is in charge of the zoo at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), was attacked while feeding the lions on Monday.
Despite efforts from his colleagues to intervene, one of the lions fatally wounded him before they could intervene, stated the university. The lion involved has since been euthanized, as per the university's announcement. Mr. Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist, had been caring for the lions since their birth on campus around nine years ago, disclosed the university's spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju.
"Tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them. We never knew what came over the male lion that it had to attack him," Mr Olarewaju said.
The university's vice-chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and directed a comprehensive investigation. In a separate statement, Abbas Akinremi, the students' union leader, characterized the event as regrettable, attributing the attack to "human error" stemming from the zookeeper's failure to secure the door after feeding the lions. Akinremi also honored Mr. Olawuyi, describing him as a "kind and humble man" who always treated visitors to the zoo with kindness.
Abba Gandu, who has been feeding lions at a zoo in Kano, northern Nigeria, for over 50 years, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety protocols. Despite the incident, Gandu affirmed his unwavering commitment to feeding lions until his last days, recalling his toughest experience when a baboon he was feeding bit his finger.
"This incident wouldn't in any way affect me personally as feeding lions is what I want to do until I die," said Mr Gandu, who started feeding lions in 1971.
After the incident, Nigerians on social media circulated graphic images of the mauling at the university in Osun state. The university community is grieving, and reporters have stated that a delegation has visited Mr. Olawuyi's family to extend their condolences.
In a similar incident in India, a man was fatally mauled by a lion at a Tirupati zoo. Authorities at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park reported that the victim, identified as 38-year-old Prahlad Gujjar from Alwar, Rajasthan, entered an unauthorized area not open to the public. Despite warnings from a caretaker, Gujjar ignored them, climbed a fence over 25 feet tall, and entered the enclosure where the lion, named Dongalpur, attacked and killed him before the caretaker could intervene.