During the act of feeding, the lion unexpectedly lunged at the zookeeper, inflicting a severe wound on the keeper's neck. Tragically, the zookeeper eventually succumbed to the injuries sustained.
As per the zoo's standard procedure, food is placed inside the enclosure by opening the door and subsequently locking it once the food is in place. However, at the time of the incident, the door was left ajar, as explained by Norichika Kumakubo, a senior park official, during a media statement.
In response to this unfortunate occurrence, the zoo, situated in the northern city of Nihonmatsu, has been temporarily closed. This closure aims to facilitate the enhancement of safety management protocols.
The zoo authorities conveyed their profound apologies to the family of the deceased zookeeper and expressed their profound remorse concerning the incident. They also pledged to implement measures that would prevent the recurrence of similar accidents in the future.
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