A zookeeper in Jamaica recently had his finger ripped off by a lion after he poked his hand through the bars of its cage.

Viral footage captured the horrifying moment in which the man was seen desperately trying to pull his hand away, while the lion continued to hold on.

The clip showed an attendant at Jamaica Zoo sticking his finger into the chain-linked cage in front of around 15 visitors. He tries to touch the lion as if he was playing with a cat.

The zookeeper ignored the animal’s snarling and continued to play with and tease the lion. However, seconds into the clip, the dangerous animal is seen striking and clamping its jaws around the man’s finger.

The man ended up losing his ring finger entirely. Speaking to Jamaica Observer, an eyewitness said that the zookeeper was showing off to onlookers when it all went horribly wrong.

“When it happened, I thought it was a joke,” the woman said, adding, “I didn’t realise the seriousness of it, because it’s their job to put on a show.”

The incident had sparked concern for the lion’s welfare and treatment by the staff.  – ndtv.com