Dinokeng Game Reserve

[Bushcraft]

The biggest problem is when the locals get the land they just let it self-destruct. They expect to carry on earning an income from it without putting in any work. How many once-profitable farms are now lying barren?

Yip

[bambazonke]

Realise that the area has/had some problems but just to recommend the De Rust Caravan Park, quiet on the river, nice sites,
ablutions somewhat dated but clean.Had approx 25 minutes up close with an African Finfoot in December last year. Good birding and general game. Some walks and hikes.

Park does not take children.

[Flutterby]

No children? That's not a great way to encourage visitors.

[Lisbeth]

No children Great idea! (I am not really serious )

[bambazonke]

Safety issue really, camp site/caravan park is in a nature reserve and the animals including predators are free to roam. from what I saw only the cattle seemed to be very securely enclosed. Two and four legged predators I suppose.

[nan]

Cattle enclosed... and predators out
that is very encouraging for visitors

[Richprins]

Woman (22) killed in Hammanskraal lion attack

It's understood the 22-year-old woman was visiting the private game reserve earlier on Tuesday when the animal attacked her.

Tendani Mulaudzi | about 18 hours ago

JOHANNESBURG - A woman has been killed by a lioness at a Hammanskraal lodge.

It's understood the 22-year-old woman was visiting the private game reserve earlier on Tuesday when the animal attacked her.

Paramedics say they arrived on the scene and found bystanders trying to administer CPR.

Netcare911's Nick Dollman said: “Tragically the young victim had sustained severe injuries, there was nothing further that paramedics could do to save her and she died at the scene. The SAPS from Cullinan were on the scene and are investigating the incident.

The Gauteng Agriculture Department is investigating the circumstances around the attack.

Director-general of natural resources Loyiso Mkwana said: “It is indeed very sad and regrettable. We are with the members of the family of the deceased. These kinds of incidents we should not have them and we should always have vicious, dangerous animals like lions under control.”

http://ewn.co.za/2018/02/27/woman-22-ki ... ion-attack

[mikef]

Self-styled "lion whisperer" Kevin Richardson has explained the circumstances leading up to a lioness attack on a 22-year-old woman visiting his wildlife sanctuary near Pretoria.

The as yet unidentified woman was mauled to death on Tuesday morning.

The reserve said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the death of a 22-year old-woman at our tented camp in The Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve. Our condolences and heartfelt sympathies go out to her family at this very difficult time."

Richardson‚ a conservationist of television fame including many wildlife documentaries‚ said: “Myself and an experienced colleague took three lions walking in the reserve‚ as we do on a weekly basis‚ as part of their exercise and stimulation regiment. We assessed the landscape for other big five animals and as per procedure sent out a notification that we were walking in the reserve.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... ided-walk/

[nan]

[Richprins]

Thanks, Mike. To continue:



"One of the lionesses charged off after an Impala and must have run 2‚0 to 2‚5km where she encountered the 22-year-old. “I am devastated and my heart goes out to this young woman’s family.”

Outlining what it called "the facts"‚ the reserve said Richardson and an experienced colleague had taken two separate groups of three lions out for a walk on Tuesday morning.

On the second walk‚ Kevin and his colleague were with two lionesses and a male. They chased an impala‚ which they didn’t catch and returned to resume their walk. This behaviour was described as a normal occurrence and happens frequently on these walks.

"The one lioness did a double take and ran after another Impala. Kevin followed the lioness and the other lions in turn followed Kevin‚ when Kevin lost sight of the lioness.

"Kevin received a call from the manager at the tented camp who informed him that a visitor to the reserve had been attacked by a lion.

"Kevin immediately called the Medivac and instructed his colleague to urgently proceed to the camp in the vehicle to provide assistance while Kevin attended to the other two lions.

"After making sure that all the lions were secured‚ he ran to the scene."

He conducted CPR. However‚ medics found that she had succumbed to her injuries.

"The young woman was not a guest at the camp‚ but had accompanied her friend to conduct an interview for an assignment with the camp’s manager. Before leaving the reserve‚ the two visitors were taking photographs outside the camp where the attack occurred."

According to Netcare 911 spokesperson Nick Dollman‚ paramedics were called to the scene at about 11am on Tuesday.

“Reports from the scene allege that a 22-year-old female victim was attacked and mauled by a lioness. When Netcare 911 paramedics arrived at the scene‚ bystanders had initiated CPR. Tragically the victim had sustained severe injuries and she died at the scene. Documentation pertaining to her death was completed by Netcare 911 and handed over to authorities at the scene‚” Dollman said.

An inquest docket has been opened by the police.

The sanctuary is made up of 13 predator enclosures and a large central enrichment area to which the predators are rotated through every couple of weeks‚ according to Richardson's website.

Richardson's wildlife reserve hosted supermodel Cara Delevingne in December for an advertising shoot. She thanked her hosts on Instagram‚ "for the most incredible experience with my favourite animals in the world".

In 2015‚ Richardson defended a decision by another reserve to spare the life of a big cat that attacked and killed an American tourist. The adult lioness had mauled the tourist in the face and neck through an open window of the car in which she was a passenger. The Lion Park outside Johannesburg said it would relocate the lioness to an enclosure in the park where she could no longer have contact with visitors. Richardson said it would have been unfair to have put her down‚ as the lioness had reacted instinctively.