An emaciated lion with ribs painfully visible, a tragic sight from the days of Bookyung Zoo's operation. Courtesy of Cheongju Zoo

A foreign zookeeper was found dead in an abandoned zoo in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, a year after the facility was shut down following allegations of animal abuse.

The body of the 60-year-old Russian national was discovered inside the lion enclosure of the now-defunct Bookyung Zoo on Sept. 11, according to the police.

The zoo, which had been the center of controversy due to reports of malnourished animals, including emaciated lions whose ribs were visibly protruding, was permanently closed in August last year. At the time of its closure, all animals were relocated, and the zoo was left without any staff.

The discovery was made by a local individual who had visited the site to purchase second-hand items left behind after the zoo's closure. Upon entering the lion enclosure, he found a lifeless body and immediately reported it to the authorities.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the zookeeper had been living in the abandoned zoo since its closure, as personal belongings such as clothing and cooking utensils were found at the scene.

The police said that there were no signs of foul play, and an initial autopsy by the National Forensic Service revealed some underlying health issues, but the exact cause of death remains undetermined.

It is believed that he had been dead for approximately a month before his body was discovered.

A spokesperson from the police department said, “We have informed the Russian Embassy about the incident. Unless any unusual findings, such as drug involvement, emerge from further testing, the case will likely be classified as a death by natural causes.”

The incident has drawn attention to the neglected state of the zoo and the tragic circumstances that led to the death of its former caretaker. The case remains under investigation as authorities await final forensic results.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.