Lions’ Lethal Mistake in Safari Park Tragedy

A tragic incident unfolded at the Taigan safari park in Russian-occupied Crimea, where a seasoned employee lost her life during a routine task. Leokadia Perevalova, who had dedicated nearly 17 years of her life to the park, was fatally attacked by lions while cleaning an enclosure.

The incident took place between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time, as reported by the park’s owner, Oleg Zubkov.

According to Zubkov, the tragedy occurred because “the transfer sluice from the road enclosure to the inner one, where the cleaning was taking place, was not closed.” This oversight is puzzling, as the animals could not have caused it, and no individuals were nearby to intervene.

The employees who discovered Perevalova’s body were unable to provide any assistance due to the severity of her injuries.

The park, known for being one of Europe’s largest big cat breeding grounds, houses approximately 60 lions. Zubkov acknowledged that “the human factor of forgetfulness” contributed to the mishap but emphasized Perevalova’s value to the park, describing her as the “soul of our park.”

He further noted that lions, as top predators, “do not forgive mistakes.”

In response to the incident, the Moscow-installed Investigative Committee of Crimea and Sevastopol has initiated a criminal investigation, suspecting workplace negligence as a potential cause.

This tragic event underscores the inherent risks associated with working closely with wild animals, even in controlled environments.

While attacks by lions in zoos are rare, the stress of confinement can sometimes lead to unpredictable behavior. This was not the first time such an incident occurred; in 2018, a lion named Matthai killed intern Alexandra Black at the Conservators Center in North Carolina.

The lion managed to drag Black into a pen due to a blocked gate, leading to a fatal encounter despite attempts to tranquilize the animal.

Watch a local news report about the incident below:

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