Teen safe after spill
into zoo’s lion’s den

A 16-year-old was injured at Franklin Park Zoo this afternoon after toppling into a lion’s den. Luckily, the lone lion did not approach the teen.

Zoo officials said the lion is a 405-pound adult African male named Christopher. Police said the beast was quickly “secured.”

Boston EMS spokeswoman Jennifer Mehigan said the male teenager fell into the den at about 3:30 p.m., apparently suffering a head injury. He was taken to Boston Medical Center with minor injuries, police sa

Mehigan said the teen was not touched by the lion, who was quickly diverted to allow emergency workers to attend to the teen.

Police and EMS remain unsure how the teen fell in, but netting around the den helped break his fall, officials said.

Movie crews were also reportedly at the zoo where “The Zookeeper” is being filmed. The flick stars Kevin James as a love-sick zoo worker.

Christopher reigns over the zoo’s Kalahari Kingdom. This caged king of the jungle has his own Facebook page and 707 fans. “I love Christopher,” writes one fan. “He can really put on a show with his roaring.”

Just last year, Christopher came up second banana to incumbent Kiki the gorilla as Franklin Park Zoo’s animal president.

Christopher’s best lion friend, Cliff, died in 2005 at age 12 from kidney failure, according to the zoo.

Both lions came to Boston in 2001 from their birthplace: Lion Country Safari in Florida.