At a zoo near Eindhoven in the Netherlands, three brother lions were being fed as part of their usual enrichment routine. To make feeding time more engaging, zookeepers placed the meat inside a plastic barrel, encouraging the lions to work a bit to retrieve their food. This method is commonly used in zoos to stimulate natural behaviors and keep the animals mentally active.
However, during this particular feeding, things took an unexpected turn. One of the lions, while trying to reach the meat, pushed his head deep into the barrel. Unfortunately, he got stuck. Over time, the opening of the barrel had likely widened from repeated use, allowing the lion to push his head in but making it difficult for him to pull it out.
Despite his efforts, the lion couldn’t free himself. Staff quickly responded and kept a close watch while contacting a veterinarian. Since the incident happened near closing time, a vet was called in after hours. To ensure the lion’s safety during the rescue, the vet sedated him before carefully cutting away the plastic barrel.
Thankfully, the lion was unharmed and woke up later with no injuries—just a bit dazed but visibly relieved to be free.
Following the incident, the zoo released a statement saying they will no longer use barrels as feeding enrichment tools. Animal welfare and safety remain a top priority, and alternative methods will be used in the future to keep the lions both safe and stimulated.
The story, while initially worrying, had a happy ending, and serves as a reminder of the importance of continuously evaluating enrichment tools used in zoos.
