PRIMAL SCREAM
Lion BITES OFF zookeeper’s finger in shocking video after he sticks his hand into cage
A LION bit off a zookeeper's finger after he stuck his hand into the animal's cage in a shocking video.
Terrified visitors watched in horror as the man was left in agony as the lion chomped down on his hand.
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Jamaica Zoo confirmed the shocking incident and said they are "assisting" the man involved in the viral video.
Footage of the bite has been widely shared online as the animal park assured it will work to prevent any "future occurrences".
The clip shows the man - described by the zoo as a "contractor" - ignoring the lion's growls.
He appears to tease the snarling beast by touching its face and foolishly sticking his fingers into his mouth.
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Baring its massive fangs and growling, the worker tempts fate and once again shoves his hand into the lions mouth.
And then it all goes wrong as the big cat chomps down.
The man was left desperately trying to pull back his hand as the lion held onto his middle finger.
He grabs hold of his right arm with his left hand and attempts to wrench himself away from the cage.
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Bracing himself with his foot against the concrete block part of the enclosure, he then pulls back.
And his finger is ripped off and left with the lion - and it's unclear what happened next to the damaged digit.
In a statement, the park told : "The actions displayed in a video by a contractor to Jamaica Zoo are tragic and do not represent the safety procedures and policies that must be adhere to at all times."
The zoo added they are assisting the man and said it hopes visitors continue to support them.
"When it happened, I thought it was a joke. I didn’t realise the seriousness of it because it’s their job to put on a show," one witness told .
The entire skin and about the first joint of his finger was gone
Witness
“Obviously, when he fell on the ground everybody realised that it was serious. Everybody started to panic."
She explained the group had been on a tour of the zoo - with the lions being one of the final stops at the park.
And the witness said despite his injuries, the man managed to walk away and get into a truck before driving off.
He reportedly later collapsed from his injuries.
The woman added: “The entire skin and about the first joint of his finger was gone.
“I ran away from the whole thing, because me nuh like see blood and it was too graphic for me.
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“His facial expression when he was walking is like the pain never kicked in.”
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