Two lions have been shot dead in front of horrified crowds after a man jumped into their zoo enclosure, stripped naked and taunted them into mauling him.
Keepers at the Metropolitan Zoo in Satiago, Chile, had to shoot the 20-year-old with a tranquiliser dart to save his life when he climbed into the pen yesterday morning.
Although the apparently suicidal man, named by local media as Franco Luis Ferrade Roman, was ignored at first, he eventually goaded the animals into attacking him, witnesses said.
Zookeepers initially used water hoses to turn the two male and female lions away but eventually resorted to firing live ammunition, killing the animals.
Mr Ferrada, who reportedly left a suicide note in his clothing, was rushed to a nearby health clinic suffering injuries to his head and pelvis.
Doctors said the man's condition was no longer life-threatening and they hoped he would fully recover.
Zoo director Alejandra Montalva said: “The shooter decided to save the life of the person and unfortunately we had to sacrifice two members of our family
“The zoo has an established protocol because people’s lives are very important to us.”
She added she was "deeply affected" by the deaths of the two lions.
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