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A zookeeper in Jamaica had his finger bitten clean off by a lion poking the big cat through the cage.
Horrifying footage captured by witnesses on Saturday shows the attendant at Jamaica Zoo sticking his finger into the chain-linked cage in front of zoo visitors.
Never seen such stupidity before in my life. pic.twitter.com/g95iFFgHkP
— Mo-Mo💙 (@Morris_Monye) May 22, 2022
He tries to tease the lion when it unexpectedly chomps down on his finger.
The man can be seen desperately trying to pull his hand away.
The clip continues to show the man losing his ring finger entirely.
According to a Jamaica Observer report, an eyewitness said that the zookeeper was showing off to onlookers when the situation spiralled out of hand.
“When it happened, I thought it was a joke,” the woman said, adding, “I didn't realise the seriousness of it, because it's their job to put on a show.”
She explained that everyone realised that it was serious when the man fell to the ground.
Eyewitness accounts state that the entire skin and about the first joint of the zookeeper's finger were gone.
Jamaica Zoo in a statement assured that the zoo is a safe place to be for both people and animals and explained that the actions displayed in the video do not represent their safety procedures and policies.
They stated that they are investigating the actions of the injured “contractor” at the zoo to prevent future accidents and are doing everything possible to assist the man.