KUFA, Iraq — A tragic incident in Iraq has ignited global shock and renewed scrutiny over the private ownership of wild animals after a 50-year-old man, Aqil Fakhr al-Din, was mauled to death by a pet lion he had recently purchased in an attempt to domesticate.
The fatal attack occurred on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in the city of Kufa, located in Iraq’s Najaf province, just days after al-Din brought the lion home and housed it in an enclosure alongside other wild animals on his private property, local media reported.
According to Al-Ghad newspaper, the incident took a deadly turn when al-Din approached the lion’s cage and was suddenly attacked.
“The predator lunged at al-Din as he approached the enclosure, biting him in the neck and chest,” a source told the paper.
The man’s cries reportedly alerted a nearby neighbour who rushed to the scene armed with a Kalashnikov rifle.
Despite the lion’s aggression, the neighbour managed to shoot the animal seven times, fatally wounding it, Shafaq News Agency confirmed.
Emergency services arrived shortly after and transported al-Din’s remains to Al-Sadr Medical City Hospital in Najaf.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rudaw news network reported that the lion refused to release its owner’s body, forcing authorities to intervene and euthanise the animal on the spot.
Gruesome footage and images of the aftermath have since flooded social media platforms, showing the lifeless lion lying in a pool of blood on a grassy patch near its enclosure, with cages and animal housing visible in the background.
The disturbing episode has reignited public discourse over the dangers of keeping wild animals as pets, particularly in regions with limited regulation and enforcement around exotic animal ownership.
It remains unclear whether al-Din had acquired the lion legally or if proper permits and safeguards were in place.
