World · 3 March 2026
Girl, 10, grabbed by lioness at Chinese zoo during feeding
Photo by Goran Vrakela on Pexels
A 10-year-old girl was attacked by a lioness at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in Guangdong, China, on 26 February 2026 after a zookeeper took her into a restricted area to feed the animal, despite her being too young to take part. The lioness thrust a paw through cage bars, caught the girl's trouser leg and pulled her toward the enclosure. A zookeeper used a metal rod to free her after a struggle lasting nearly half a minute. The girl suffered only minor abrasions, received a rabies vaccination and was discharged. The zookeeper was suspended and the zoo temporarily closed.
Reported by Need To Know · How we write briefs