KRASNODAR, May 13 (RIA Novosti) - A drunken Russian zookeeper, who was mauled by a lion after climbing into its pen May 1 at a zoo in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, died in hospital Tuesday, investigators said.
The man, who had been suspended from work for being drunk, entered the animal's enclosure while the lion slept and was attacked by the big cat as he tried to tap it on the nose.
Following the attack the zookeeper was hospitalized in a critical condition undergoing surgery to amputate his hand but died from his injuries.
A criminal investigation has not been launched as local prosecutors decided the tragedy was caused by the zookeeper's carelessness.
