Qays, the male Barbary lion in the Belfast Zoo enclosure where the trainee worker was allegedly locked in (Picture: PA)
A investigation has been launched after a trainee zoo worker was allegedly locked in a lion’s enclosure, with the animals roaming freely.
It’s said the worker at Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland was initially in the lions’ paddock alongside a more experienced member of staff, while the big cats were kept intheir den.
But the more senior staff member apparently then left the enclosure, locking the gate on their way out, and leaving the animals free to roam.
The worker – believed to be over 18 and taking park in a job start scheme – was ‘locked in’ with the lions and left with ‘nowhere to go’, it is claimed.
A source told the Belfast Telegraph newspaper: ‘They are very lucky they weren’t killed or severely mauled and left with horrendous injuries.
‘I can only imagine what was going through this poor person’s mind. I mean, how on earth did this happen?’
Belfast City Council, which owns the zoo, confirmed an investigation is under way.
There are two female Barbary lions in the enclosure, including Fidda, pictured (Picture: PA)
A spokesperson said: ‘Council is aware of an incident at the lion enclosure at Belfast Zoo earlier this month.
‘We take the safety of all our staff, visitors and animals very seriously, and an investigation is under way into the circumstances of this incident.
‘We cannot comment further while this is ongoing.’
Belfast Zoo is home to a pride of Barbary lions, once native to North Africa, but now extinct in the wild.
A new enclosure for the pride – Qays and his two female companions Thheiba and Fidda – was opened last year.
Belfast City Council, which owns the zoo, said an investigation was underway (Picture: PA)
They have been based at the zoo since 2005 after being born at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent.
They have produced more than eight cubs, the zoo previously said, in a bid to ensure the survival of the species.
Last year a Japanese zookeeper was killed by a lion as he tried to feed it and forgot to lock a door.
Kenichi Kato, 53, was found unconscious and bleeding from his neck inside part of the lion’s enclosure at Tohoku Safari Park in the Fukushima region.
In the UK in 2013, zoo worker Sarah McClay, 24, died after being mauled to death in a tiger attack at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Cumbria.
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