A 10-year-old girl was attacked by two lions at a zoo in China after a zookeeper let her enter a restricted feeding zone—an error that resulted in her screaming as the big cats grabbed her leg and dragged her toward the enclosure bars.
The frightening incident occurred on Feb. 26, 2026, at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in Guangdong province, China, when the child stood near the lions’ cage while trying to feed them. Video footage shows the shocking moment a lioness suddenly reached a paw through a gap between the bars, grabbed the girl’s leg, and pulled her down.
The girl’s screams echoed as a zookeeper rushed in, pulling her away and trying to force the lion to release its grip. During the struggle, a second lion stretched through the bars and tried to seize her as well. The staff member eventually struck the lioness’s paw with a metal rod, freeing the child after a harrowing 30-second confrontation captured on surveillance cameras.
The girl sustained minor scrapes on her leg and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she received a precautionary rabies shot before being released later that night, around 9 p.m. In a surprising turn, her parents said they do not blame the zoo for what happened.
Zoo employees believe the lioness reacted aggressively after spotting meat in the girl’s hand during the feeding activity. The lion’s instincts may have been triggered by the food so close to the child.
The event underscored a major safety breach at the zoo. The girl was far too young to be permitted inside the feeding area, which is restricted to older visitors for safety reasons. An internal review determined that the zookeeper had taken her into the designated buffer zone so she could feed the lioness, despite her being under the required age.
Investigators found that “zookeepers allowed visitors to enter the isolation area to feed the animals,” according to the zoo’s Feb. 28 statement. The zoo attributed the attack to a breakdown in management oversight.
Investigators also determined this was not an isolated incident — the suspended zookeeper had previously allowed other visitors into the restricted feeding area on multiple occasions, suggesting a pattern of misconduct rather than a one-time error.
The zookeeper who allowed the underage visitor into the prohibited feeding area has been suspended following the incident.
Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo, which is popular for its hands-on feeding experiences that draw families from across the region, has temporarily closed in response to the attack. Operations are halted while officials conduct a comprehensive safety review to better protect guests and animals.
Footage obtained by news outlets shows the child standing directly against the lions’ enclosure bars when the attack began. The video highlights how rapidly a routine feeding moment turned into a life-threatening emergency.
Lions are apex predators with formidable jaws and claws capable of causing severe or fatal harm. Adult male lions can weigh 330 to 550 pounds, while lionesses typically weigh 265 to 395 pounds. Their natural hunting responses can be triggered by movement, closeness, or the presence of food, making close interaction extremely dangerous, especially for children.
The girl’s minor wounds were an extraordinarily lucky outcome given the perilous situation. The swift action of the zookeeper who used the metal rod likely prevented far more serious injuries—or a potentially deadly mauling.
Chinese officials have not said whether further penalties or regulatory changes will follow the investigation.