In a heart-wrenching incident that has shocked the community, a zookeeper in Uzbekistan tragically lost his life after attempting to impress his girlfriend by entering a lion’s cage.
The fatal attack, captured on video, occurred on the morning of December 17, 2024, at a private zoo in Parkent.
44-year-old F. Iriskulov was working the night shift when he filmed himself unlocking the cage of three African lions. Initially, the lions seemed calm, sitting in the corner of their enclosure.
However, as Iriskulov ventured inside, the mood shifted. The video shows him calling one of the lions by name, “Simba,” and even attempting to pet the animals.
What seemed like a harmless stunt quickly turned terrifying.
The lions, who had been lounging quietly moments before, suddenly became aggressive.
F. Iriskulov, seemingly unaware of the growing danger, continued filming and even turned the camera toward himself, as if recording a message for his fiancée. But within minutes, one of the lions lunged at him.
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The camera shook as Iriskulov screamed in fear. The video abruptly cut off, but sources confirm that the lions attacked him, mauling him beyond recognition.
Rescue teams arrived four hours later to find his remains, and authorities reported that one lion was shot dead while the other two were tranquilized.
An investigation revealed that the lions had escaped due to a faulty lock on their enclosure. The authorities ensured that no one else in the area was harmed and that all enclosures were secured.
This tragic incident serves as a painful reminder of the dangers involved in handling wild animals. Iriskulov’s final moments, recorded on video, have left the community in shock and mourning.
В Узбекистане сверхразум, работавший в зоопарке, решил показать своей Зульфие какой он храбрый.
И не придумал ничего лучше, как зайти в клетку к трём голодным львам. Те поначалу не проявляли агрессии, а потом его съели. Полуобглоданные останки нашли утром, когда пришла охрана. pic.twitter.com/I1WAG1vMZF
— Still the same Major (@Toxic_alien_0) January 1, 2025