An intoxicated man reportedly set free six lions from their enclosures in a zoo reserved for ex-circus animals. The man, estimated to be around 40 years old, climbed a fence to release the animals and sought shelter in one of the lion’s cages when they turned aggressive. A dog present at the scene was also fatally attacked by the lions.

Keepers were alerted to the situation and swiftly intervened, rescuing the man who had sustained severe injuries to his arms and face. The incident unfolded at Los Pinos Reserve in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico, on Monday. The lions were unharmed during the episode.

A video clip recorded by the man during the chaos showed him inside the cage as the lions roamed outside. The man appeared to have created a makeshift barricade using a pulled-open gate for protection.

Following the rescue, the man was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Images from the hospital revealed extensive injuries to his face. This incident coincided with another recent lion-related mishap, where a 10-year-old girl was grabbed by a lion while feeding it at a zoo in China.

In the separate incident in China, the girl’s trouser leg was caught by the lion through the cage bars, prompting a frantic rescue effort by a zookeeper who managed to free her with a metal rod after a brief struggle. The girl was unharmed but too young to participate in the feeding activity.

The zookeeper involved in the China incident has reportedly been suspended and reassigned pending further investigation.