Zookeeper dies after being mauled by lion

Main entrance of a section inside Seoul Children’s Grand Park where Kim was found dead with multiple bites by a lion on his body / Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

A zookeeper died Thursday after being mauled by a lion at Seoul Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, the operator of the park said. This is the first death of a worker caused by an animal attack at the zoo.

No civilian was injured, because the park was temporarily closed due to the risk of for avian influenza.

The 53-year-old victim surnamed Kim was found lying unconscious on the ground with multiple bites to his torso and legs.

His co-worker, who found him, called 119, and the emergency crew performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but he did not regain consciousness. Kim was then taken to a nearby hospital at around 2:53 p.m., but was soon pronounced dead.

Park authorities said Kim was likely bitten while trying to acclimatize the lion to a larger enclosure.

Following the incident, the lion was put back in its cage.

Some 4,100 animals of 95 species are displayed at the zoo.