The girl at the cage (left) and later at the hospital. Image Credit: Social media

Dubai: A two-year-old Yemeni girl has had her left hand amputated after being bitten by a lion during her family visit to the zoo in Ibb governorate in Yemen, media reported.

Reports said the toddler put her hand into the lion’s cage when the beast bit her hand off. The girl was accompanied by her father who was busy clicking pictures of her.

The girl and her father, who went into a coma after watching his daughter's hand in the lion's mouth, were taken to a hospital. 

Human rights advocates held the child’s father and the administration of the zoo, which is under the control of the Al Houthi militia, accountable for the tragedy.

They also decried the administration’s disregard for safety of the visitors, especially children, some of who tend to get closer to animals.