According to local TV sources, one of the victim’s neighbors allegedly stepped in and used a Kalashnikov gun to shoot the lion, killing it with seven bullets.
However, it was too late for al-Din by the time the lion was killed. Due to the severity of his injuries, he did not survive despite being sent right away to Al-Sadr Medical City Hospital in Najaf.
A formal investigation into the incident’s circumstances has apparently been launched, and graphic photos showed the man drenched in blood as he lay on a hospital bed.
Social media users are also discussing how al-Din managed to retain the untamed beast on his land after seeing a video of the dead lion in the garden.
Local sources state that the victim bought the lion with the goal of domesticating and taming it.Due to years of violence,
lax enforcement, and a strong demand for rare species, illegal wildlife trafficking is still a major issue in Iraq.
