In a bizarre incident, a 33-year-old man jumped into a lion’s enclosure after climbing two fence barriers at a zoo in Kerala. He was later rescued by security guards present there. The incident happened at a zoo in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

The man was identified as Murugan, who was missing from his house in Palakkad, Kerala since a week. His family had also given missing ads in the newspapers. He reportedly entered in the enclosure to by jumping the two barriers and started to wave at the shocked crowd. He then proceeded towards the lioness named Gracy on four limbs cautiously. Meanwhile, the crowd tried to stop him but he did not listen to anyone.

A watchman at the zoo spotted him and called the concerned authority immediately. The security guards, seven in number, distracted the lioness and pulled him out of the enclosure, averting a tragedy.

“It would have been a major tragedy if the watchman failed to notice him. If he teased the animal, it would become violent in no time,” said an official from the zoo.

Murugan sustained injuries while climbing the fence and was admitted to hospital. His relatives have been informed and the police investigation will begin after primary questioning.