General Discussion

catchnrelease

(2,133 posts)

28. A very similar incident years ago

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 06:38 PM

Dec 3

In 1980 a man did almost the same thing at a zoo near me--the person climbed up a very high wall and across to a tree. Then he jumped down into the lion exhibit where he was killed. He had with him some religious items, so it was thought he figured if Daniel could go into the lion's den, then he could as well. It happened during a quiet time at the zoo and the lion dragged the body to a secluded area of the exhibit. The poor animal keeper was traumatized when he discovered what had happened. (The man was partially eaten) The lion was not killed, thankfully, altho' when the police arrived they were ready to start blasting away and had to be made to hold off.

Religious mania or mental illness or both?

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MustLoveBeagles Raine

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Highlight:

Zoo lion that fatally mauled man that jumped into lion exhibit will NOT be euthanized [View all] Coventina Dec 3 OP

Good LetMyPeopleVote Dec 3 #1

I'm fine with this MustLoveBeagles Dec 3 #2

Agreed, that Lioness was doing what she's supposed to do, MarineCombatEngineer Dec 3 #3

Good. I am still pissed off about Harambe. marble falls Dec 3 #4

Chief was a polar bear at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI Bettie Dec 3 #15

... pazzyanne Dec 4 #34

Good. Behind the Aegis Dec 3 #5

I agree, his death is tragic, but not the lioness' fault. Coventina Dec 3 #7

Agree on both counts! Behind the Aegis Dec 3 #8

I didn't realize that MustLoveBeagles Dec 3 #9

As some author termed it in some novel years ago, "evolution in progress." n/t the nelm Dec 3 #17

Also deaths at auto-safaris do occur. GreenWave Dec 3 #6

Good! SheltieLover Dec 3 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Dec 3 #11

There is no proof that humans taste any better than any other prey animal. Coventina Dec 3 #21

Concern by whom? Torchlight Dec 3 #30

Good, finally some common sense about this. Warpy Dec 3 #12

Leoness the lioness is saved Clouds Passing Dec 3 #13

With his history of mental illness, he needed to be supervised like one would do a small child. n/t iluvtennis Dec 3 #14

yes Skittles Dec 3 #16

Yes, so tragic. n/t iluvtennis Dec 3 #20

Skittles! jfz9580m Dec 17 #49

Great news! StarryNite Dec 3 #18

The lion was loving that 'long pork' pfitz59 Dec 3 #19

Hope they cut back the branches on the tree. Figarosmom Dec 3 #22

Lions cannot distinguish between prey and idiots. Sneederbunk Dec 3 #23

He was a bloody idiot canetoad Dec 3 #24

Glad to hear it. (nt) Paladin Dec 3 #25

Good! yardwork Dec 3 #26

Good. Animals shouldn't have to pay with their lives for acts of human stupidity. Crunchy Frog Dec 3 #27

A very similar incident years ago catchnrelease Dec 3 #28

So glad for Leona the Lioness, but sad for the young schizophrenic man. niyad Dec 3 #29

The end results seems to suggest that he would not have been very good at it. Aristus Dec 4 #40

In his case, it appears to have been mental illness. niyad Dec 4 #48

WONDERFUL🦁why should the lion suffer Raine Dec 3 #31

Glad the lioness was not killed. But for goodness sake the guy was suffering from mental illness; NOT "an idiot"! Its.. electric_blue68 Dec 3 #32

Proves that good ol' Charlie Darwin was right! Enter stage left Dec 3 #33

Great news. Celerity Dec 4 #35

Your thoughts, GrumpyCat? OldBaldy1701E Dec 4 #36

Darwin was wrong LPBBEAR Dec 4 #37

It's about time we stop punishing animals for the idiotic things that we do. Borogove Dec 4 #38

HIstory of mental illness. Ruh roh. twodogsbarking Dec 4 #39

Pardon my ignorance, but what does "ruh roh" mean in this context? Martin68 Dec 4 #42

We could all be there. I am hoping not. I feel for him. Sad, isn't it? twodogsbarking Dec 4 #44

Excellent news. The animal may be more dangerous as a result of the experience, but that isn't the lion's fault. Martin68 Dec 4 #41

Your brain isn't always your friend. It is sad. twodogsbarking Dec 4 #45

Animals should not suffer... BH liberal Dec 4 #43

This message was self-deleted by its author cstanleytech Dec 4 #46

You, it wasn't the lions fault for doing what lions do. cstanleytech Dec 4 #47