A 10-year-old girl was mauled by two lions at a zoo in China after a zookeeper allowed her into a restricted feeding section, a serious mistake that ended with the animals grabbing her leg and pulling her toward the enclosure bars as she screamed.
The alarming event happened on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at the Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in Guangdong Province, China. The child had approached the lions’ habitat to feed them when a lioness suddenly stretched her paw through a gap in the bars, seized the girl’s leg, and knocked her down, as seen in recorded footage.
Her screams echoed through the area while a zoo worker grabbed her and struggled to pull her away from the lioness. During the scuffle, a second lion reached through the bars, attempting to latch onto her as well. The zookeeper eventually struck the lioness’ paw with a metal rod, freeing the child after a frightening 30-second battle captured on surveillance cameras.
She suffered minor abrasions on her leg and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she received a precautionary rabies vaccination before being discharged around 9 p.m. that night. Remarkably, her parents did not hold the zoo responsible for the incident.
According to local news sources, staff believe the lioness reacted after spotting meat in the girl’s hand. The animal’s predatory instincts were triggered by the food she was offering.
The situation exposed a major safety oversight at the zoo. The girl was far too young to be inside the feeding section, which is limited to older visitors for safety purposes. An internal review revealed that the zookeeper had led her into a protected buffer area so she could feed the lioness, despite her not meeting the age requirement.
The investigation determined that “zoo keepers allowed visitors to enter the isolation area to feed the animals,” according to the zoo’s Feb. 28 announcement. The incident was attributed to a lapse in proper management judgment.
The zookeeper who permitted the underage girl to enter the restricted feeding space has been suspended and reassigned in the wake of the attack.
Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo, which is popular for its hands-on feeding attractions geared toward families, has been temporarily closed following the incident. Operations will remain paused until a full safety assessment is completed to safeguard visitors and animals.
Video released by media outlets shows the girl standing directly against the enclosure bars at the moment the lions struck. The footage demonstrates how quickly a routine feeding experience escalated into a dangerous emergency.
Lions are powerful apex predators with extremely strong jaws and claws capable of inflicting severe or fatal injuries. Adult male lions generally weigh between 330 and 550 pounds, while lionesses—the type involved here—typically range from 265 to 395 pounds. Their natural predatory instincts can be activated by movement, close proximity, or food, making close interactions particularly hazardous for children.
The fact that the girl only suffered minor injuries is considered extraordinarily fortunate. The zookeeper’s rapid use of the metal rod likely prevented more serious harm or a potentially deadly outcome.
Authorities in China have not yet announced whether additional penalties or updated safety regulations will result from the inquiry.