A NAKED man who jumped into the big cat enclosure at a Chilean zoo in a
desperate ‘suicide bid’ survived – but only after the lions attacking him
were shot dead.
Santiago authorities confirmed the two beasts were killed as they mauled the
20-year-old who had broken into their compound early on Saturday.
The man, who has not been named, was accidently hit with a tranquiliser as
zookeepers frantically tried to put the lions to sleep.
He taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was said to be in a “grave”
condition.
Director of the city’s Metropolitan Zoo Alejandra Montalba said the park was
crowded with visitors at the time of the incident.
The young man broke into the enclosure, took off his clothes and jumped into
the middle shocking families who witnessed the attack.
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“The zoo has an established protocol because people’s lives are very
important to us,” said Montalba.
She added that there were no fast-acting tranquilizers available to stop the
lions quickly.
The zoo director said she was ‘deeply affected’ by the deaths of the two
lions, a male and a female.
A suicide note was reportedly later found in the man’s clothing.
Witness reported he shouted religious statements as he was mauled.
“Everyone started screaming when they saw him,” a man told news
channel Chilevision.
Another said: “There were a lot of children there, and parents covered
their eyes while it was going on.
“He was screaming religious things.”
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