WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Lion handler Babaji Daule, 35, was showing guests the big cat’s feeding routine when the tragedy unfolded – forcing staff to intervene before it tore his body to pieces
Tourists watched on in horror as a zookeeper was mauled to death by a lion after making a fatal mistake.
Lion handler Babaji Daule, 35, was showing guests the big cat’s feeding routine at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Nigeria, on September 28, 2024, when the tragedy unfolded.
He was “feeling comfortable” with the beast and left the safety protection gate open. The lion then attacked him and inflicted fatal injuries to his neck, killing the zookeeper on the spot.
Park personnel immediately put the animal down to stop it tearing his body to pieces. All of this took place in front of shocked onlookers who were visiting the wildlife section of the library complex, one of the most popular tourist spots in Abeokuta.
It isn’t clear whether Mr Daule had permission to take the guests into the enclosure when it was supposed to be closed. Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola said that he “carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal”.
He went on: “This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death. The wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.” He also said that officers had launched an investigation into how the tragedy occurred.
The park’s management added the attack occurred “outside the approved feeding routine” and confirmed that the body had been taken to the local mortuary, the Daily Post Nigeria reported. The OOPL shared their condolences with Babaji’s family and stressed that safety for staff, visitors, and animals is their top priority.
Several months later, a German businessman and philanthropist was killed by a lioness during a safari excurion in Namibia. Bernd Kebbel, 59, was camping with his wife and a group of friends next to the country’s Hoanib River. He stepped out of the tent to use the toilet on Friday morning on May 30, 2025, when he was set upon by the lioness. The rest of the group sprung into action and managed to scare the animal away, but Bernd’s injuries had already proved fatal.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism later confirmed that the lioness involved in the attack had been put down. Mr Kebbel used to own the Offroad Centre, which specialised in supplies for offroad vehicles, The Namibian reported.
