The Christian who threw himself to the lions - and somehow survived: Moment man who believed he was Biblical character Daniel is mauled while trying to 'convert' big cats in their zoo enclosure

UK Daily Mail ^ | 11/02/2025 | KEVIN ADJEI-DARKO

[DFG]

When Chen Chung-ho strolled up to two African lions at Taipei Zoo, nearly 21 years ago, visitors were left confused and stunned.

Some are said to have believed it was all part of a show, while others thought he was a trained worker who had access to the beasts' enclosure.

But soon after Chen stood in front of the lions, his bizarre behaviour made it increasingly clear that an impending danger loomed.

Armed with a Bible, he had one motive - to preach the gospel and 'convert' the lions on November 3, 2004.

Witnesses said he shouted 'Jesus will save you' as he faced the animals. The lions who were lounging under a tree stood up and approached the man.

Just like the people at the zoo, they initially seemed confused about what he was doing. He even taunted them by saying: 'Come bite me!'

He then took off his jacket and waved it around. With a roar, one of the enraged animals, a male with a huge mane, lunged at him and knocked it out of his hand.

Seconds later, it attacked and bit his right arm.

The man, seemingly now aware of the gravity of the situation, attempted to back away onto a nearby rock with his arms raised in what appeared to be the surrender position.

But the furious lion charged at him again and chomped on his right arm. The man could only exclaim in pain as he was trapped with nowhere to go.

Now seated on the rocks, Chen came face to face with the 300lb beast, which attacked him once again, its growls sounding angrier with each attack.

After mauling him a few more times, Chen was left holding his leg in agony.

---

TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: christian; lions; mauling

[lee martell]

The classic FAFO scenario.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
If that was my cousin down there, literally in the Lions Den, I would want to jump in and drag him out, but I would know that I could not do that. Better to go find some help.

[HYPOCRACY]

I remember seeing this when it happened.

[SaveFerris]

Matthew 4:5-7
King James Version

5 Then the Devil taketh Him up into the Holy City,
and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the Temple,

6 And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God,
cast Thyself down: for it is written,

He shall give His Angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time thou dash Thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again,
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A5-7&version=KJV

[Zhang Fei]

This must be some kind of Taiwanese affliction. Years before this incident, a couple of Taiwanese tourists on safari in South Africa got out of their cars, tried to have their pictures taken with lions at the park. They ended up, naturally, in the ER, where a friend had to attend to the resulting wreckage. Sadly, all the King’s men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together.

An American tourist who was fatally mauled years later, merely rolled down her window. And her interest might have been trade-related, being an special effects person.

[Libloather]

Witnesses said he shouted...

Violated the first rule of Biblical lion taming. Shhh...

[Verginius Rufus]

St. Francis was much smarter. He preached to animals and birds which were unlikely to inflict life-threatening injuries.

[Skooz]

Retirement goals.

[OrangeHoof]

Had Chen been successful, he would have moved on to the Bears, then the Vikings and then the Packers...

[Peter ODonnell]

I might have picked King David if I were going to play the role of a Biblical heavyweight, if you see where I’m going with this. Laz agrees!!

[Zhang Fei]

[Had Chen been successful, he would have moved on to the Bears, then the Vikings and then the Packers...]

---

LOL

[gnarledmaw]

What name does he use on FR?