Oleg Zubkov, a well-known lion handler and owner of Taigan Safari Park, is fighting for his life after being mauled by the same lion that fatally attacked a park employee last year.
The 57-year-old, often called the “lion whisperer,” suffered 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.
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 growing scrutiny after a series of safety incidents, including the fatal mauling of park employee Leokadiya Perevalova in October 2024.
According to Zubkov, Perevalova made a “fatal error” by failing to close a safety gate, which led to a lion attacking and biting her in the neck. “Lions are apex predators—they don’t forgive mistakes,” Zubkov said at the time.
The same lion involved in that incident, which was not put down, has now turned on Zubkov himself.
Witnesses described panic and chaos during Sunday’s attack (June 22). “The lion dragged him by the neck like a toy,” one onlooker said, according to The Mirror. Tatyana Aleksagina, a 58-year-old park worker, quickly acted by driving a buggy into the enclosure and throwing a bucket at the lion to distract it. The animal then released Zubkov and backed away.
A visitor identified only as Alexei then climbed into the enclosure to help. “Tatyana couldn’t move him alone,” a witness said, via The Daily Mail. “Alexei jumped in, dragged Oleg to the buggy, laid him down, and climbed back out.”
Zubkov was taken to hospital in a private vehicle and was reportedly unconscious on arrival. Doctors carried out complex surgery, and his condition remains critical.
A source close to the park said: “The doctors are doing everything possible, and impossible, to save him. It’s a huge shock to his family and to all of us who know him. We’re praying for his recovery.”
The incident is raising renewed questions about safety protocols at Taigan Safari Park and whether the lion, already responsible for two serious attacks, should have been removed after the first tragedy.
