Zubkov, director of the Taigan Safari Park, revealed the details of the lion attack.

Oleg Zubkov, director of the Crimean safari park Taigan, violated the allowed distance between him and the lion before the predator attacked. He announced this at a press conference on July 8.

He reproduced the day of the attack in detail. Zubkov shared that he was throwing meat to young lions while another predator was eating while sitting under a bridge.

"I violated the distance, which should have been much more than I allowed myself, because the metal fence prevented me. Well, he was probably sitting about three meters away. I provoked him with this gate, and without thinking twice, he attacked me, showing all his anger and aggression," he shared.

According to him, the predator grabbed at the throat. Zubkov stressed that he felt the lion's teeth and tried to keep breathing. He also clarified that the animal dragged him through bushes and under bridges in front of visitors, but his assistant and head of the Taigan press service, Tatyana Aleksagina, did not lose her head and managed to drive the lion away.

Day of Closed Animals: will the Taigan Park stop working after the lion attack

Investigators have already opened a case on violation of labor protection requirements, which resulted in serious harm to health.

Earlier, on July 4, Zubkov said he would continue to communicate with the lions. According to the director, the animal that attacked him will remain in the savannah. The safari park director has already returned to work. On July 5, his colleagues warmly welcomed him and presented him with a bouquet of flowers.

Lev attacked Zubkov on June 22. The animal inflicted multiple wounds on the man. The victim underwent surgery, and his condition was stabilized. As noted by Tatiana Aleksagina, the head of the Taigan press service, the lion attacked Zubkov because he attracted the animal's attention by the sharp sound of the door closing.