Man eaten alive by pet lion just days after buying the animal to keep in his back garden

IRAQ – A 50-year-old man in Najaf, Iraq, was killed and partially eaten by a lion he had recently purchased to keep in his backyard. The incident occurred on May 8 in the city of Kufa, where the man was attacked by the predator in his garden.

According to Najaf Police spokesperson Mufid Tahir, the lion mauled the man to death before consuming much of his body. Authorities said the animal refused to leave the remains, prompting them to shoot and kill it.

The man, identified as Aqil Fakhr al-Din, had reportedly kept lions and other wild animals for years. However, this lion had only been in his possession for a few days.

A neighbor intervened during the attack and shot the lion multiple times with a Kalashnikov rifle. Al-Din was taken to Al-Sadr Medical City Hospital but died due to the severity of his injuries.

Graphic images and a video of the dead lion have circulated on social media, sparking public outrage.

An official investigation has been launched into how the man was able to own such a dangerous animal.