Lion Attack in China: 10-Year-Old Girl Attacked by 2 Lions at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo, Disturbing Video Surfaces
A 10-year-old girl was attacked by two lions at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in China after a zookeeper allowed her into a restricted area for a feeding session. Viral footage shows the lions pulling her against the bars before she was rescued. The girl survived with minor injuries, and the zoo is now closed pending a major safety investigation.
New Delhi, March 14: Authorities in Guangdong province have initiated a safety investigation following a distressing incident at the Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo, where a 10-year-old girl was attacked by lions on February 26. The encounter, which occurred during a supervised feeding session, was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media. Local officials confirmed that while the child was injured, she was rescued by zoo staff and is currently in stable condition.
The incident took place when a zookeeper reportedly allowed the young girl into a restricted buffer zone to feed the lions through the enclosure bars. Footage of the encounter shows the girl offering food when a lioness suddenly reached through the bars, hooked the child's clothing with its claws, and attempted to pull her toward the cage. Viral Video Shows ‘7-Star’ Dining Experience at State-Owned Hospital in China, Video Goes Viral.
Video of Lions Attacking Minor Girl at China's Zoo Park Surfaces
Disturbing Video Shows Lions Attacking Minor Girl at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo
A second lion also began to reach toward the girl as a zookeeper desperately struggled to pull her away. The zookeeper used a metal rod to pry the lion's grip loose while holding onto the child. The struggle lasted approximately 30 seconds before the girl was freed from the animal's grasp. The girl was immediately transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. According to reports from World Animal Protection and local outlets, she sustained minor abrasions and lacerations to her leg. She received a rabies vaccination and was discharged the same evening.
Following the attack, the Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo was temporarily closed to the public. Provincial authorities are currently reviewing safety protocols and investigating the management failures that allowed a minor to enter a prohibited high-risk area for close interaction with predators.
Scrutiny of Wildlife Tourism Practices
The viral video has reignited a broader debate regarding safety standards and animal welfare at regional zoos. International advocacy groups, including PETA and World Animal Protection, have criticised the practice of allowing visitors - particularly children - to have close contact with captive wild animals for entertainment. Experts note that predatory instincts remain intact even in captivity, and high-stress environments can lead to unpredictable behaviour. "Lions are predators whose instinctive responses remain intact regardless of being held in captivity," World Animal Protection stated in a briefing on the incident. "Even interactions marketed as safe can turn dangerous in seconds", it added. What’s Behind China’s ‘Are You Dead’ App And Its Sudden Viral Rise.
Historical Context of the Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo
Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo is an older facility that has previously faced calls for modernisation. This latest incident has intensified pressure on the municipal government to implement stricter regulations on "human-wildlife separation" and to ban interactive feeding sessions with dangerous animals to prevent similar accidents in the future.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2026 08:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).