A 10-year-old girl was mauled by two lions at a Chinese zoo after a zookeeper allowed her into a restricted feeding area—a devastating mistake that left her screaming as the big cats grabbed her leg and pulled her toward the cage bars.
The terrifying attack unfolded Thursday, Feb. 26, at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in Guangdong Province, China, when the young girl stood close to the lions’ cage attempting to feed the animals. Video footage captured the horrifying moment a lioness suddenly thrust her paw through a gap in the cage bars and grabbed the girl by her leg, pulling her to the ground.
The girl’s screams pierced the air as a zookeeper grabbed her and desperately tried to break her free from the lion’s grip. As the struggle intensified, a second lion reached through the cage bars and attempted to grab her as well. The zoo staffer eventually used a metal rod to strike the lioness’s paw, finally freeing the child after a terrifying 30-second tussle that was captured on surveillance video.
The girl suffered minor abrasions to her leg from the attack and was rushed to a local hospital, where she received a rabies vaccination as a precaution before being discharged later that evening at around 9 p.m. In a surprising twist, her parents reportedly do not hold the zoo responsible for the incident.
Zoo staff members believe the lioness attacked after spotting meat in the girl’s hand during the feeding session, according to local media reports. The predator’s hunting instincts were triggered by the proximity of food in the child’s grasp.
The incident exposed a critical safety failure at the facility. The girl was far too young to have ever been allowed into the designated feeding area, which is restricted to visitors above a certain age for precisely this reason. An internal investigation revealed the zookeeper had taken the girl into the designated safety buffer zone so she could feed the lioness, despite her being too young to participate.
Investigation findings revealed that “zoo keepers allowed visitors to enter the isolation area to feed the animals,” according to the zoo’s statement. The incident was attributed to a lapse in management judgment.
The zookeeper who permitted the underage girl to enter the forbidden feeding area has been suspended and reassigned following the incident, according to reports. Zoo officials acknowledged in a Feb. 28 statement that the incident was caused by a lapse in management.
Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo, known for its interactive animal-feeding programs that attract families throughout the region, has been temporarily closed following the attack. The zoo’s operations have been suspended pending a comprehensive review of safety measures designed to protect both visitors and animals.
The dramatic video obtained by media outlets shows the girl standing directly against the bars of the lions’ enclosure when the attack began. The footage reveals how quickly the situation escalated from what appeared to be a routine feeding activity to a life-threatening emergency.
Lions are apex predators with powerful jaws and claws capable of inflicting severe or fatal injuries. Adult male lions can weigh between 330 and 550 pounds, while lionesses—like those involved in this attack—typically weigh between 265 and 395 pounds. Their instinctive hunting behavior can be triggered by movement, proximity, or the presence of food, making close interactions inherently dangerous, especially for children.
The girl’s minor injuries represent an extraordinarily fortunate outcome given the circumstances. The quick response of the zookeeper who used the metal rod to fend off the lions likely prevented far more serious harm—or even a fatal mauling.
Chinese authorities have not announced whether additional penalties or regulatory changes will follow the investigation. The suspended employee’s future employment status remains uncertain as officials examine whether proper safety guidelines were communicated and enforced before the attack occurred.
The temporary closure of Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo signals that authorities are taking the safety breach seriously. Before reopening, the zoo must implement enhanced safety protocols to ensure that no visitor—especially a child—is ever again placed in such danger at what should be a safe educational environment.