Oleg Zubkov, a famous lion handler and the owner of Taigan Safari Park in Crimea, which is occupied by Russia, is currently fighting for his life after being attacked by the same lion that killed a park worker last year.
The 57-year-old, often called the “lion whisperer,” suffered serious injuries to his head, neck, and lungs while he was in the enclosure during feeding time. Local news reports indicate that he is in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
Taigan Safari Park is one of the biggest big cat sanctuaries in Europe and is home to about 60 African lions. Even though it is known as a tourist spot, it has been under increasing scrutiny due to several safety incidents, including the tragic death of park employee Leokadiya Perevalova in October 2024.
Zubkov stated that Perevalova made a “fatal error” by not closing a safety gate, which allowed a lion to attack and bite her in the neck. “Lions are apex predators—they don’t forgive mistakes,” Zubkov mentioned at that time.
Now, the same lion that was involved in that incident, which was not put down, has attacked Zubkov himself.
Witnesses described a scene of panic and chaos during the attack on Sunday (June 22). “The lion dragged him by the neck like a toy,” one witness recalled, according to The Mirror.
