Man's Attempt To Take Selfie With A Walrus Ended In Complete Disaster

In a tragic turn of events, a man's attempt to take a selfie with a walrus ended fatally. 

While it's fairly common for zoo visitors to snap pictures with animals, this incident highlights the potential dangers of such interactions, especially with large and powerful creatures.

Walruses, known for their massive size, can weigh about a ton. 

Generally, these marine mammals are not aggressive towards humans, but their sheer size and strength make them potentially dangerous.

The incident took place in 2016 at the Yeshanko Wildlife Zoo in Liaoning province, China. 

Jia Lijun, excited to see the walrus, which weighed around 1.5 tons and had been at the zoo for over ten years, decided to take a selfie with the animal. 

Jia Lijun died after taking a photo with the walrus. Credits: CEN

While he managed to get a few photos, the walrus is then reported to have attacked Lijun, grabbing him from behind and dragging him into the water.

A zookeeper, experienced in handling animals, tried to intervene but sadly, both he and Lijun lost their lives in the struggle.

A friend of Lijun described the shocking and rapid turn of events. 

According to him, Lijun was cheerful and sending videos just minutes before the incident. 

"Who would have thought that at three o'clock he would send me a video, talking and laughing and just a few minutes he was drowning in the water."

The walrus reportedly weighs 1.5 tons. Credits: CEN

He recounted eyewitness accounts, stating, 

"His back was to the walrus, and he took a selfie."

"The walrus came from behind and pulled him into the pool to play." 

He emphasized, "He was killed by the walrus; he didn't accidentally fall into the water."

Following the incident, Lijun's family received a compensation of 900,000 yuan (about $137,000), as reported by CNET at the time. 

The walrus was reportedly not euthanized after the event.

This incident is a grim reminder of the risks associated with interacting with wild animals, even in controlled environments like zoos. 

In a similar, more recent incident, Bahawalpur Zoo in Punjab, Pakistan, temporarily closed after a man was fatally mauled by tigers. 

He had jumped into their enclosure after the zoo's visiting hours. 

Ali Usman Bukhari, a senior officer of the province's wildlife department, stated, 

"The zoo is closed right now as we determine how the man got in," as reported by CBS News.