A criminal case has been initiated regarding the lion attack in the Parkent district.

On December 17, three lions that were kept in the same enclosure managed to escape into the zoo's courtyard. A 44-year-old guard, F.I., who was present, attempted to drive the animals back into their cage, but they attacked him, causing fatal injuries.

Following this incident, two lions were sedated with tranquilizers and returned to their enclosure. Another lion was shot by a hunter who was called to the scene.

In connection with the guard's death, a criminal case has been initiated under Article 257 of the Criminal Code (violation of labor protection rules). The case has been handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation.

Instances of lions attacking zoo staff in Uzbekistan have occurred before. For example, in 2019, in Andijan, a lion named Simba mauled a keeper who was feeding the animal.