A tragic incident occurred at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Monday involving a lion and the school’s zookeeper named Olabode Olawuyi.
Olawuyi, who had been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade, was attacked and killed by the nine-year-old male lion while he was feeding the animal and its mates in their den. He had nurtured them since their birth nine years ago.
Despite efforts by other staff members to rescue Olawuyi, he suffered severe injuries from the lion’s attack.
The university’s management, led by Vice-Chancellor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, responded promptly to the incident, with an on-the-spot assessment conducted. However, despite medical efforts, Olawuyi could not be saved.
As a result of the tragic event, the aggressive lion was euthanized.
The university management extended condolences to Olawuyi’s family and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, has also initiated a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the incident to avoid a reoccurrence.
The event has shed light on the inherent risks associated with working closely with wild animals, even in controlled environments such as zoos. Hence the importance of safety protocols and measures to minimize such risks in zoo management.
