A zoo has launched a probe after a worker was allegedly locked in a lions enclosure – while the big cats roamed freely.
The worker is said to have been in the lions enclosure alongside a more experienced staff member to tend to the big cats, which were kept in their den.
But the more senior staff member is said to have left the paddock and locked the gate, leaving the lions free to roam.
The worker – believed to be an adult participating in a job start program – was “locked in” with the lions and left with “nowhere to go”, it is claimed.
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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.
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 – last year.
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.
