A terrifying moment captured on video at a zoo in southern China is drawing widespread attention online after a lioness briefly grabbed a 10-year-old girl during a feeding session.
The incident occurred Feb. 26 at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in Guangdong Province. Footage circulating across social media shows the child standing near the lions’ enclosure while holding a piece of meat during what appears to be an interactive feeding activity.
In the video, a lioness suddenly reaches through the metal bars of the enclosure, grabbing the girl’s trouser leg and pulling her toward the cage. The child can be heard screaming as the animal holds onto her for several seconds. A second lion nearby also attempts to reach through the bars during the struggle.
The tense moment lasts roughly 30 seconds before a zookeeper intervenes, using a metal rod to pry the lioness’s paw away and free the girl. Other adults quickly rush in to help pull her back from the enclosure.
Despite the frightening scene, the girl escaped with relatively minor injuries. According to zoo officials, she suffered abrasions and scratches on her leg and was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Doctors reportedly administered a rabies vaccination before releasing her later the same day.
Zoo management later acknowledged that the child should not have been allowed into the restricted feeding area, citing age-related safety rules for interactive animal encounters. Officials attributed the lapse to a staff error during supervision.
Following the incident, the zoo temporarily closed while an internal investigation and safety review take place. Management said it is examining procedures around visitor interactions with animals and considering upgrades to barriers and warning signage. The staff member responsible for overseeing the activity has reportedly been suspended or reassigned during the review.
The footage quickly spread across social platforms, prompting criticism from viewers who questioned why visitors — particularly children — were allowed so close to large predators.
Animal welfare advocates have also weighed in. The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals renewed calls for zoos to end interactive feeding experiences involving big cats, pointing to global wildlife safety reports that document several incidents each year involving large carnivores and human contact.
While the encounter ended without serious injury, the viral video underscores the risks of close interactions with wild animals — even in controlled environments like zoos.
