Lion reportedly pulled female tourist from car in Lion Park, where guests are advised to drive with the windows up
A woman has been killed and another injured in an attack by a lion at the Lion Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
An American tourist was mauled to death by a lioness after the animal bit the woman through a car window in a South African wildlife park on Monday.The 22-year-old woman and a male friend were on an afternoon drive in Lion Park, a tourist destination just outside Johannesburg that advertises “super close-up animal views guaranteed,” when the lion bit her through the passenger window.
“The lion approached from the left of the vehicle from the passenger side and it walked quite close,” said Scott Simpson, Lion Park’s spokesman.“The witnesses said they saw the guests taking pictures of the lion from a metre away, then the lion lunged at the car and bit the lady through the window.”
The vehicle believed to have been carrying the victim seen in a cordoned-off area inside a lion enclosure
Mr Simpson said that the park staff rushed to get the lioness off the terrified young woman, but were too late to save her life.
“When the paramedics were treating the lady she unfortunately passed away,” said Mr Simpson, a 28-year-old who has been working at the Lion Park for less than a year.
Mr Simpson said the American tourist was on a “routine” drive through an enclosure, which is approximately eight hectares large, with 12 lions inside.
“There was nothing special about this one,” said Mr Simpson about the fatal drive. "We have 200,000 visitors every year and an incident like this very rarely happens.”
A police van arrives at the Lion Park, where an investigation is under way
The South African male driver of the car was injured in the attack as he tried to save the tourist, according to reports. He was taken to a nearby hospital and his injuries are not life threatening, said Mr Simpson.South African police have opened an inquest. “The investigation is how the woman died, because she died unnaturally,” said Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, Gauteng province police spokesman.The US embassy said it was aware of reports of an incident involving a US citizen.
The lion attack is just one of a series of violent episodes seen at the popular park this year.
In March, an Australian tourist – who also had his window rolled down to take pictures – was bit in the leg by a lion and in April a 13-year-old boy was attacked by a cheetah on his bicycle, reportedly after deciding to cut the fence and take a short cut home through the park.
Lions scrap at the Lion Park in Johannesburg
“No later then 36 hours after touching down in Africa I find myself in hospital after a lion jumped through the car window and decided to go to town on my legs,” said the Australian tourist Brendan Smith in a Facebook post on March 26.
"Could have and should have been a lot worse but chicks dig scars so I’ll be sweet!"
Guests are advised to drive with the windows up when they go through the Lion Park, which has seen big name celebrities, such as Rihanna and Shakira, visit the grounds.Even when the car doors and windows are firmly shut, guests in wildlife parks are at risk. Last year, a man filmed a curious lion in South Africa opening a car door.Despite the loss of human life, Mr Simpson was unable to comment on what will happen to the lioness who bit the tourist. “Obviously we’re incredibly sad that this happened, our condolences go out to the family,” he said.Still, said Mr Simpson, “we won’t euthanise it, that’s not an option.”
Not the lions fault.
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