Zoo evacuated after lion attacks keeper, escapes from cage in Turkey

The Gaziantep Zoo in southeast Turkey was evacuated after a lion attacked its keeper and escapes its cage on July 15, the zoo management said. Zookeeper Cebrail Korkmaz was taken to the hospital after the attack around noon and remains in good condition, while the lion was reportedly pacified and put back in its cage.

Thursday July 15 2021 04:12 pm

Duvar English

The Gaziantep Zoo in southeast Turkey was evacuated and shut off to visitors briefly on July 15 after a lion attacked its keeper and escaped its cage during feeding hour, the zoo management said.

Zookeeper Cebrail Korkmaz was reportedly taken to nearby Gaziantep University's Medical Faculty after getting injured, while the lion was shot with a pacifier and carried back into its cage.

The zoo reopened its gates after a few hours, the Gaziantep Municipality said.

The Gaziantep Zoo was also the site of keeper Mehmet Geçibesler's death in 2004 after a Siberian tiger named Volkan attacked him.

Topics zoo Gaziantep lion Turkey Turkish