Horror moment zookeeper is mauled to death by lions after climbing into cage for selfie video ‘to impress girlfriend’
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WATCH the horrific moment a zookeeper has his face ripped off by a group of lions after stepping into their cage to “impress his girlfriend”. The animal keeper, named as F. Iriskulov, 44, unwittingly filmed himself being mauled to death by the big cats at Lion Park, Uzbekistan.
![[The face of F. Iriskulov, later ripped from his skull by the lions]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/de6b7107-4007-450c-9947-b192804de168_6863bd.jpg?strip=all&w=716)
The night worker films himself opening a padlock to the enclosure at 5am. He was intending to send a video of him with the apex predators to his girlfriend. At first the lions are unbothered and remain lying down in the corner, watching the reckless keeper.
![[The three lions were lying quietly in his cage when he entered - but would pounce two minutes later]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/e0cb8e12-1a50-4118-ac38-5bbb5c3b98ce_f4a8ae.jpg?strip=all&w=868)
The man goads the beasts, repeatedly calling “Simba”. Suddenly, when Iriskulov gets too close, they spring up and he leaps back in surprise - but still they don’t attack. Instead of escaping the cage at this point, the man continues to talk to the lions, saying “Simba, be quiet”.
![[The man unlocked a large padlock in order to enter the cage]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/c15831ba-a550-469f-94b7-b993e0205b7f.jpg?strip=all&w=773)
The three lions, clearly agitated, are all on their feet pacing around the room and sniffing the man. The camera flashes to the doomed man’s face for a moment, before returning to the lions. Finally, after two minutes, one of the lions can be seen clamping down on the man’s arm, who shrieks out in pain.
![[The animals showed a lot of interest in the man, sniffing him repeatedly]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/57290c86-fc87-444d-8267-8caa63c5cdd1.jpg?strip=all&w=754)
At this point the phone falls to the ground, but the man’s bloodcurdling screams can be heard alongside the lion’s low growl as it tucks into him. The man continues to shout “Be quiet, be quiet”, but the lions won’t be put off. The footage then cuts out, but the three lions reportedly killed the man and devoured him.
![[All three were prowling around the room before one finally pounced]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fcc00f0b-9549-4c94-805f-807286436539.jpg?strip=all&w=889)
