KIEV, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - A man mauled by a lioness in Kiev Zoo Sunday was attempting to commit suicide, the zoo director said Monday, citing investigation results.

Yevheniy Kirilyuk said the 45-year-old Ukrainian of Azerbaijani origin, who descended into the lions' enclosure on a rope and died when a lioness attacked, biting his throat, had been seen near the enclosure with four lions earlier. He said the man had asked attendants questions about lions' habits.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said earlier Monday that he had died instantly.

Before his death, the man appeared to say a prayer, entered the zoo's Beast Island surrounded by a deep moat, tied a rope to the lion's enclosure, and descended.