Japanese Zookeeper Dies After Lion Mauled Him In Safari Park

A zookeeper died after being attacked by a lion at Tohoku Safari Park in Japan.

Kenichi Kato, 53, was attempting to entice the lion into his cage when it attacked and grabbed him by the neck.

(Photo : Getty Images/Jack Guez)

Feeding the lion

Kato was discovered bleeding heavily and unconscious inside the lion's cage, according to a local police official.

According to a senior park official, Kato was attempting to lure a lion into a cage with food but failed to close a door that should have separated him from the lion.

"The process is that we open the door, and place the food. Once the food is placed, the door is to be closed and locked," said Norichika Kumakubo, vice-president of the park.

Kato was eventually confirmed dead, despite emergency personnel rushing him to a nearby hospital.

Cuts on the victim's neck indicated that he had been attacked by the lion, and CCTV footage, which was not made public, appeared to show the lion pouncing on him.

The zoo has been closed to improve safety management measures, according to the park.

According to local media, Kato was a veteran staff member who worked with animals such as lions, tigers, and bears.

"We deeply apologize to Mr. Kato and his family," Kumakubo said. "We regard this extremely seriously. We will take measures to prevent similar accidents."

The Tohoku Safari Park is home to over 100 different species of animals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, and others, with a total population of 1,100 animals.

Lion attack

Lions are huge mammals with a lot of muscle and the ability to kill. A single lion can attack and kill many humans in a single attack. Their ability to attack from cover and kill with a single bite makes them ideal for inflicting deadly wounds.

Also, because lions hunt in groups known as prides, it's easy to see how these enormous predators devastate animal populations, including humans.

Lion attacks are not uncommon in areas where they dwell in close proximity to humans, and two individuals are murdered each year by these creatures.

Lions, for the most part, do not pose a significant threat to humans.

People no longer live as close to them as they once did. Some people, however, can become victims of lion attacks by putting themselves in danger.

Hunters and safari guides both come too close to lions if they want to ensure their safety. Sometimes, by attempting to shoot a lion for sport or assisting their customers in getting a good look at wild lions, these individuals endanger themselves and others.

The deadliest lion attack in history killed 1,500 people in modern-day Tanzania's Njombe region. These attacks occurred throughout a 15-year period, from 1932 to 1947.

During that time, three generations of lions were born, and the pride began to hunt humans in the neighborhood.

The first generation of lions to hunt humans is thought to have done so out of rivalry for food and land. Eventually, lions began to utilize the same nighttime ambushes to hunt humans as they did animals.

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