Evolution in Action: Mauled by Pet Lion

The Daily Mail reports that a "Man is mauled to death and EATEN by pet lion days after buying the beast to keep in his back garden." The victim, 50-year-old Aqil Fakhr al-Din, lived in Najaf in southern Iraq. The man apparently had experience keeping lions and other exotic beasts, but "on Thursday, the predator launched a surprise attack on its trainer before ferociously mauling him to death and devouring him." "One of the victim's neighbours reportedly intervened and shot the lion with a Kalashnikov rifle, killing it with seven bullets, as per local TV reports," showing that AKs can be effective against dangerous game if you aren't expecting a one-shot, one-kill. The article goes on to mention that Iraq, because of rampant lawlessness, is a hotspot for the international blackmarket in endangered animals.