{"id":13026,"date":"2026-06-01T00:41:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T00:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetwistzone.com\/?p=13026"},"modified":"2026-06-01T00:41:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T00:41:45","slug":"lion-whisperer-critically-injured-by-same-cat-that-killed-colleague-last-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetwistzone.com\/?p=13026","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Lion whisperer\u2019 critically injured by same cat that killed colleague last year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oleg Zubkov, a well-known lion handler and owner of Taigan Safari Park in Russian-occupied Crimea, is fighting for his life after being mauled by the same lion that fatally attacked a park employee last year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The 57-year-old, often dubbed the \u201clion whisperer,\u201d sustained severe injuries to his head, neck, and lungs while inside the enclosure during feeding time. Local reports say he is in critical condition following emergency surgery.<\/p>\n

Taigan Safari Park, one of the largest big cat sanctuaries in Europe, is home to around 60 African lions. Despite its reputation as a tourist attraction, it has faced mounting scrutiny following a series of safety incidents, including the fatal mauling of park employee Leokadiya Perevalova in October 2024.<\/p>\n

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According to Zubkov, Perevalova made a \u201cfatal error\u201d by failing to close a safety gate, leading to a lion attacking and biting her in the neck. \u201cLions are apex predators\u2014they don\u2019t forgive mistakes,\u201d Zubkov said at the time.<\/p>\n

The same lion involved in that attack, which was spared from euthanasia, has now turned on Zubkov himself.<\/p>\n

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Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos during Sunday\u2019s attack (June 22). \u201cThe lion dragged him by the neck like a toy,\u201d one onlooker recounted, per\u00a0The Mirror.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Credit: X.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tatyana Aleksagina, a 58-year-old park worker, acted quickly and bravely, driving into the enclosure in a buggy and hurling a bucket at the lion to distract it. The animal released Zubkov and retreated.<\/p>\n

A visitor to the park, identified only as Alexei, then climbed down into the enclosure to help. \u201cTatyana couldn\u2019t move him alone,\u201d a witness explained, via\u00a0The Daily Mail<\/a>. \u201cAlexei jumped in, dragged Oleg to the buggy, laid him down, and climbed back out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zubkov was rushed to hospital in a private vehicle, reportedly unconscious upon arrival. Doctors performed a complex surgery, and his condition remains critical.<\/p>\n

A source close to the park said: \u201cThe doctors are doing everything possible, and impossible, to save him. It\u2019s a huge shock to his family and to all of us who know him. We\u2019re praying for his recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The incident is reigniting questions about safety protocols at Taigan Safari Park and whether the lion, now responsible for two brutal attacks, should have been removed after the first tragedy.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Oleg Zubkov, a well-known lion handler and owner of Taigan Safari Park in Russian-occupied Crimea, is fighting for his life after being mauled by the same lion that fatally attacked … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13027,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Lion whisperer\u2019 critically injured by same cat that killed colleague last year - Thetwistzone<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thetwistzone.com\/?p=13026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Lion whisperer\u2019 critically injured by same cat that killed colleague last year - 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