Key points
- In Turkey, a lion named Zeus escaped from the Land of Lions zoo and attacked a farmer sleeping in the yard.
- The farmer was hospitalized with injuries and the lion was subsequently shot. The circumstances of the escape are currently being investigated.
Lion Escapes from Turkish Zoo / Wikipedia (illustrative photo)
A lion escaped from a zoo in southern Turkey on June 6. The predator attacked a man who was sleeping in his yard.
A lion has escaped from the Land of Lions zoo in Manavgat, Channel 24 reports, citing Associated Press.
Lion Escapes from Zoo in Turkey
A male lion named Zeus escaped from his cage at night at the Land of Lions zoo in the Mediterranean resort town of Manavgat. Within hours, he attacked 53-year-old farmer Suleyman Kir, who was sleeping in the yard after working on a pistachio plantation.
I heard a rustling sound. When I lifted the blanket, the lion jumped on me. We fought, we struggled… I grabbed him by the neck and squeezed. At that moment, he ran away a little, – the man said.
The patrolmen who were looking for the predator heard the noise of a struggle and scared the lion away by shooting into the air.
The farmer was hospitalized with injuries to his head, shoulder and legs. The lion was soon found in a nearby forest area and shot.
The Land of Lions website states that the park is home to “the world's largest lion family” – more than 30 animals. The zoo also houses tigers, bears and wolves.
The circumstances of how the animal managed to escape are being investigated.
