A man’s casual attempt to interact with a leashed lion on a busy street in Makhachkala, Dagestan, escalated into a terrifying attack captured on viral video. The big cat, walked like a domestic dog, suddenly lunged at the approaching individual, clamping its jaws around his hand and pulling him to the ground.

The Attack Unfolds

Footage shows the casually dressed man nearing the lion, which initially appears calm. As he reaches toward the animal’s face, the predator’s demeanor shifts abruptly. The lion charges, biting down on the man’s arm amid screams from onlookers. Bystanders initially laugh before gasping in horror as the victim struggles to free himself, his hand disappearing momentarily into the beast’s mouth.

Several locals intervene, and the lion’s handler pulls frantically on the leash. The man escapes unharmed, later stating he sustained no serious injuries.

Official Response

Authorities in Russia’s Dagestan region have launched an investigation. “Checks are being carried out to establish the time, place, and circumstances,” a police spokesperson stated. Officials aim to identify the lion’s owner and verify if he holds permission to keep the wild animal as a pet.

Related Fatal Incidents

This close call follows deadly encounters elsewhere. In May, an Iraqi man, 50-year-old Aqil Fakhr al-Din, was killed and partially eaten by his pet lion in Najaf. Police shot the animal after it refused to abandon its prey.

In Crimea, wildlife park worker Leokadiya Perevalova, a big cat specialist, suffered a fatal mauling. She forgot to secure a safety gate, allowing lions to attack and sever her carotid artery. “The staff who found the body unfortunately could not provide any help because the lions had just mauled it,” said Oleg Zubkov, a 56-year-old lion expert. “I was horrified by the fact that the lions, despite being well-fed, healthy, and strong, not only killed but also nibbled and started gnawing the legs.”