Taigan Safari Park: Zookeeper mauled to death by lions at Crimean zoo after enclosure door left unlocked

The tragic incident occurred at the Taigan Safari Park, located on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula, which houses around 60 lions and is one of the continent's biggest breeding grounds for the predators, investigators said on Wednesday (October 16).

The Moscow-installed Investigative Committee of Crimea and Sevastopol has since launched a criminal case over the death “of an employee at the Taigan lion park as a result of a predator attack."

The victim, identified as Leokadia Perevalova, had worked at the park for nearly 17 years as the chief zookeeper. Investigators revealed that she was attacked after entering the enclosure to clean without properly securing the bolt of a door between two rooms, allowing the lions access to her.

Oleg Zubkov, the park's owner, described the incident as a "tragic mistake." In a statement on his blog, Zubkov said: "It is unclear how and why this happened, as the animals could not have done such a thing on their own, and apparently there were no people around." He added: "The employees who discovered the body, unfortunately, could no longer provide any assistance, since she had simply been torn to pieces."

Zubkov took to his Telegram channel to praise Perevalova, calling her a "valuable employee" and "the soul of our park." He acknowledged that "the human factor of forgetfulness played a role" in the fatal accident. "Unfortunately, when I arrived there was nothing I could do to help. (They are) top predators and they do not forgive mistakes," he added.

A criminal investigation has been launched into the death, focusing on workplace negligence, authorities confirmed.

Taigan Safari Park, which spans 70 acres, opened to visitors in 2012 on a former military base. The park features elevated walkways that allow guests to observe lions roaming freely.

The park has faced controversy in the past; in 2019, it was temporarily closed after accusations that Zubkov fed the animals expired food, a claim he denied. Zubkov has accused Crimean authorities of attempting to undermine his business following Russia's annexation of the peninsula in 2014.

Crimea remains internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, though it has been under Russian control since 2014.