A MAN who jumped into the lion's enclosure at the Venkateswara Zoological Park (SVZP) in Tirupati, India to take a 'selfie' with the big cat was mauled to death.
Reports in the Times of India said the incident occurred last Thursday when the man, identified as Prahlad Gurjar, 38, who was believed to be drunk jumped into the lion's enclosure.
He had scaled a four-foot safety wall and did not heed warnings from the zoo staff in charge of the enclosure.
The victim had visited the zoo alone.
Reports said the 12-year-old lion was later caged for the body to be retrieved.
There were three lions in the enclosure at the time - one female and two males.
The male lion named Dungarpur pounced on the victim, and though he tried to escape by climbing a tree, he was dragged down by the big cat. - The Vibes, February 19, 2024