According to Kyodo news agency on September 29, Mr. Kenichi Kato, 53 years old, was discovered in the lion cage at Tohoku Safari Park zoo on the afternoon of September 28.
Nihonmatsu City Police said that when he was found, Mr. Kato was unconscious and bleeding from a wound to his neck. He was taken to the hospital but later died.
The entrance to Tohoku Safari Park Zoo on the evening of September 28. Photo: Kyodo
The accident happened when Mr. Kato lured the lion back to its cage by using food. However, he did not close the cage door, which is used to separate the staff and the animals.
The injuries showed that he had been mauled by a large animal. Security camera footage also showed the lion jumping on him.
Mr. Kato is a dedicated employee of the Tohoku Zoo with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in caring for large carnivores such as lions, tigers, and bears.
Zoo Vice President Norichika Kumakubo expressed his deepest apologies to Mr. Kato's family. Mr. Kumakubo also said the zoo would take the incident seriously to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Tohoku Safari Park Zoo will be closed until safety measures are improved.
Lions at Tohoku Safari Park Zoo. Photo: Facebook Tohoku Safari Park
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