A 50-year-old man in Najaf, southern Iraq, was mauled and eaten by a pet lion just days after he purchased the animal to keep in his backyard.
The horrific incident occurred on Thursday, May 8, in the city of Kufa, where the lion fatally attacked its owner, Aqil Fakhr al-Din, before consuming a large portion of his body.
“Today in a garden in the city of Kufa in Najaf, a citizen was attacked by a lion in his own garden and died immediately,” Najaf Police spokesperson Mufid Tahir told local media outlet Rudaw.
Authorities said the lion had to be killed after it refused to leave the victim’s remains. Reports indicate that a neighbour shot the lion seven times with a Kalashnikov rifle, ending the attack.
Al-Din, who had a history of keeping wild animals, including lions, had only recently acquired the predator, intending to raise and tame it at home. But the plan took a deadly turn when the animal launched a surprise attack, fatally injuring its owner.
Emergency services rushed the victim to Al-Sadr Medical City Hospital in Najaf, but he was pronounced dead due to the severity of his wounds.
Disturbing images of the aftermath and a video showing the lion’s body in the garden have circulated online, prompting public outcry and raising questions about how such dangerous animals are allowed to be kept on private property.
Authorities have launched an official investigation into the incident.
