Overview

• Oleg Zubkov suffered serious head, neck and lung wounds during a feeding session and remains in critical condition after surgery.
• The attacking lion was the same animal Zubkov chose not to euthanize after it killed senior keeper Leokadiya Perevalova in October 2024.
• Park keeper Tatyana Aleksagina intervened by throwing a bucket at the lion and a visitor climbed into the enclosure to drag Zubkov to safety.
• Taigan Safari Park houses around 60 lions and attracts international tourists by allowing untethered interactions with big cats.
• The Russian Investigative Committee has opened an inquiry into potential negligence in the park’s safety measures following multiple incidents.