Seven lions attacked a cleaner on his first day at work after he took a short cut through their enclosure, state press said on Friday.
Zhang Huabang was in a critical condition after mistakenly walking on Tuesday through the unlocked gate of the enclosure at Shanghai Wildlife Park to get to the other side, the China Daily said.
Staff at the zoo used a water hose to drive the lions away and threw live chickens into the enlcosure to distract the animals before rescuing the cleaner, the report said.
He suffered lacerations to his face, shoulders and legs and was in intensive care, it said.
The zoo was investigating why the gate to the enclosure was unlocked. – AFP