In the southern Iraqi city of Kufa, Najaf Province, a 50-year-old man named Aqil Fakhr al-Din, known locally for his passion for keeping wild animals, was fatally attacked and partially devoured by his pet lion. The tragic incident occurred on May 7, just days after al-Din had brought the lion home with the intention of taming it.
Al-Din had a history of raising wild and predatory animals in his garden, but the newly acquired lion turned violent during an interaction in the garden. As he approached the lion's cage, the animal suddenly lunged, biting him severely on the neck and chest. The injuries were fatal, and the lion proceeded to consume a large portion of his body.
Neighbors, alerted by al-Din's screams, intervened by shooting the lion seven times with a Kalashnikov rifle, ultimately killing the beast. When police arrived, they found the lion still beside the victim's mangled remains, forcing authorities to shoot the animal as well. Al-Din's body was taken to a hospital for forensic examination.
This shocking event has raised serious questions among local residents about the legality and safety of keeping large wild animals as pets in Iraq. Many are calling for stricter regulations and enforcement regarding the ownership of dangerous wildlife.
Iraq has long struggled with illegal wildlife trade and insufficient regulation of exotic animal ownership. Despite signing the Convention on the Protection of Animals in 2014, enforcement remains weak, allowing black market trafficking and private possession of rare and dangerous species to persist. Commonly trafficked animals include falcons from the southern plains and various birds, foxes, and reptiles from the Kurdistan region.
Experts note that while some regional authorities, like the Kurdistan Regional Government, have begun enforcing anti-hunting laws, much of central and southern Iraq continues to see unregulated wildlife trade and ownership. The government is urged to implement and enforce comprehensive wildlife protection laws to prevent such tragedies and protect both animal welfare and public safety.
