Just weeks after the controversy at the Cincinnati Zoo, where a gorilla was fatally shot when a little boy fell into its enclosure, another incident involving a child encounter with a wild animal, is making headlines.
At a zoo in Chiba, Japan, an encounter between a toddler and a 400-pound lion was captured on video and shared on social media.
The boy, who was reportedly visiting the zoo with his parents, was caught on camera staring at the lion through a glass panel. The moment the toddler turned his back and broke eye contact, the lion, who was crouching on all fours in the background, suddenly leaped into the air in the direction of the boy. He was however stopped by a glass panel which separated the animal from his on-lookers.
The crash against the glass startled the boy who eventually rubbed his head in confusion while watching the lion cautiously.
So was the lion trying to attack or just play? This is the debate happening since the video has gone viral.
Many reports and comments on social media regarding the incident have described the lions actions as playful however Adam M.Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA disagrees and told The Dodo:
“Lions are natural wild predators and the child in this video, especially when turning his back to the massive feline, becomes prey in the animal’s eyes,”
He also stated that: “The firm glass wall held the lion inside his enclosure, surely frustrating his innate instincts. But luckily for the family, if the barrier had not held the consequences could have been catastrophic.”
With the recent incidents which have taken place, I’m sure parents are thinking twice before taking their children to visit the Zoo.