Drunken Russian zookeeper dies after tapping lion on nose

[Alonzo]

KRASNODAR, May 13 (RIA Novosti) - A drunken Russian zookeeper, who was mauled by a lion after climbing into its pen May 1 at a zoo in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, died in hospital Tuesday, investigators said.

The man, who had been suspended from work for being drunk, entered the animal's enclosure while the lion slept and was attacked by the big cat as he tried to tap it on the nose.

Following the attack the zookeeper was hospitalized in a critical condition undergoing surgery to amputate his hand but died from his injuries.

A criminal investigation has not been launched as local prosecutors decided the tragedy was caused by the zookeeper's carelessness.


http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080513/107252287.html

[micfranklin]

Lesson: don't drink on the job, especially with animals that are known to kill humans around.

[cronic]

I have always said drunkiness and lions don't mix well..

[micfranklin]

Better be glad it wasn't a reticulated python.

[Muser]

<samsim> I heard about this guy who broke into a lion's den at the zoo
<samsim> and got mauled
<samsim> and people were talking about how there should have been better defences put up to prevent people getting into the cage
<samsim> a friend of mine suggested setting up some kind of deterrent
<samsim> for example, putting some sort of fierce animal in the cage, which would attack anybody who climbed in

[Wndrtch]

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080513/107252287.html

LOL!!

Shouldn't they have focused on saving his life, instead of cutting off his hand?

Thoses crazy Ruskies!