A lion chewed clean off a zookeeper’s finger in Jamaica while poking the large animal through the cage.
Witnesses on Saturday took terrifying footage of the worker at Jamaica Zoo poking his finger inside the chain-linked cage in front of zoo visitors.
When the lion abruptly chomps down on his finger, he tries to tease it.
The man can be seen anxiously attempting to get his hand away from him.
The video continues to show the man completely losing his ring finger.
An eyewitness told the Jamaica Observer that the zookeeper was showing off to onlookers when the situation got out of hand.
“I thought it was a joke when it happened,” the woman explained, adding, “I didn’t realize the significance of it because it’s their job to put on a show.”
She explained that when the man collapsed, everyone realized it was bad.
According to eyewitnesses, the zookeeper’s entire skin and roughly the first joint of his finger were gone.
In a statement, Jamaica Zoo stressed that the zoo is a safe location for both people and animals, and that the behaviors depicted in the video do not represent its safety protocols and rules.
They added that they are investigating the injured “contractor’s” behavior at the zoo in order to prevent future accidents and are doing all possible to assist the individual.
I hope they don’t take it out on the lion!! He cant defend himself
How flipping cruel having a lion caged in a small enclosure. This is cruelty at its worst!