US EditionMan mauled to death and eaten by his pet lion he kept in a garden
- Aqil Fakhr al-Din, a 50-year-old man, was mauled to death by his pet lion in his garden in Kufa, Iraq, on May 8, 2025.
- Al-Din had long housed lions and various exotic animals on his property and had recently acquired a lion with the goal of domesticating it.
- The lion pounced on al-Din as he approached its cage, biting his neck and chest and consuming a large portion of his body.
- A neighbor responded to the attack by firing multiple shots from a Kalashnikov rifle, ultimately killing the lion after it continued to stay near the victim's remains.
- The incident sparked outrage over Iraq's lax exotic animal regulations and highlighted risks from illegal wildlife trafficking and weak law enforcement.
23 Articles
23 Articles
A resident of Najaf (Iraq) died on 8 May after being attacked by a lion he had acquired a few days earlier and kept in his garden
Man mauled to death and eaten by his pet lion he kept in a garden
Aqil Fakhr al-Din kept wild animals in his back garden (Picture: YouTube) A man was mauled to death by his pet lion only days after buying it. Aqil Fakhr al-Din, 50, was attacked by the predator last Thursday before it devoured most of his body at his home in Kufa, Iraq. He had for years kept lions and other wild animals in his garden, having purchased another lion earlier this month to tame it. But the wildcat pounced on al-Din and bit his neck…
The Scottish Sun
Animal lover mauled to death & eaten by his PET LION days after buying beast
A MAN was mauled to death by his pet lion in southern Iraq, just days after bringing the animal home in hopes of taming it in his garden. The victim, 50-year-old Aqil Fakhr al-Din, was known locally for keeping lions and other wild animals on his property for years, according to police. YouTubeAqil Fakhr al-Din, 50, was tragically killed by his pet lion[/caption] YouTubeThe lion was shot dead[/caption] Mufid Tahir, a spokesperson for local polic…
A very bad idea... In Nadjaf, Iraq, a 50-year-old man was killed by his own lion. The tragedy took place on Thursday, May 8th in the victim's garden. According to media reports Rudaw, Aqil Fakhr al-Din was maimed to death and a part of his body was even devoured by the wild animal. According to the media, the feline would have surprised his owner who thought he could control him. Note that Aqil Fakhr al-Din had acquired the lion only a few days …
In Kufa, in southern Iraq, Aqil Fakhr al-Din, a 50-year-old man, was fatally attacked by a lion he had recently bought to keep him in his garden. The tragedy took place only a few days after the arrival of the animal, highlighting the dangers associated with the private detention of wild animals. According to local authorities, the attack occurred without warning.
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