‘Lion whisperer’ Oleg Zubkov in critical condition after attack by same lion that killed park worker
The founder of Taigan Safari Park was mauled during feeding time, raising fresh questions over safety at the controversial attraction
Visitors at Taigan Safari Park in Crimea watched in horror as Oleg Zubkov, the man known as the “lion whisperer,” was dragged to the ground by one of his lions — the same animal that killed an employee last year. The 57-year-old remains in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
What was supposed to be a routine feeding on Sunday, June 22, turned into chaos when the lion lunged at Zubkov, biting his neck and pulling him down. “The lion dragged him by the neck like a toy,” one witness said.
Quick-thinking park worker Tatyana Aleksagina, 58, drove a buggy into the enclosure and hurled a bucket at the animal, forcing it to release its grip. A visitor, identified only as Alexei, jumped into the enclosure to help move Zubkov to safety.
Zubkov was rushed to the hospital unconscious, where doctors performed a complex surgery on his head, neck, and lungs. His condition is still described as critical.
A lion with a deadly past
This is not the first time the lion has attacked. In October 2024, 49-year-old park employee Leokadiya Perevalova was fatally mauled during feeding. At the time, Zubkov blamed the tragedy on human error, saying, “Lions are apex predators — they don’t forgive mistakes.”
Despite the fatality, the lion was spared from being put down — a decision now under scrutiny after the latest attack.
Safety concerns at Taigan Safari Park
Taigan Safari Park, located in Russian-occupied Crimea, is home to about 60 African lions and is known for allowing tourists close encounters with the animals. But it has long faced criticism for its safety record.
Now, with Zubkov himself in critical care, questions are mounting about whether the park’s approach to big cat interactions can continue.
A source close to the family said: “The doctors are doing everything possible, and impossible, to save him. It’s a huge shock to his family and to all of us who know him. We’re praying for his recovery.”
The attack reignites a broader discussion: can humans ever safely share space with lions, or does every encounter carry the risk of tragedy?
For Zubkov — once the face of human–lion trust — the answer now hangs in the balance, as doctors fight to save his life.
