I decided to look up some context since this seems, mmm, unsafe, even if the lioness in this instance appears non-threatening.
This took place at the Taigan Safari Park in Crimea. It’s owned by a Russian businessman named Oleg Zubkov, who has a… colorful history with captive animals and authority. He also has zero regard for public safety or the safety of his animals. He advertises his park as having a “Walk with the Lions” experience, which allows (as seen above) unrestricted access between animals and people.
In ‘18 a woman was mauled by a lion after entering its enclosure for a supervised photoshoot. She survived, and Zubkov agreed to pay her medical bills, but he also blamed her for what happened by claiming she was drunk.
That article also mentions a worker, Maxim Yakovlev, who was mauled to death by a tiger, though again, Zubkov denied any responsibility.
In ’22 a tiger bit off the thumb of a 1 year old boy. Zubkov actually went to jail (for a few moths) for that one and then turned around (that same year) and stole some animals from a zoo. The park has also had a lot of financial issues and other “incidents” involving the animals.
I try not to be a buzzkill because I know people need their serotonin, but this video showcases dangerously unsafe conditions for both the humans and the lioness, and no reputable park would ever allow something like that.
amhrancas 