Dangerous Animal Incidents

[nan]

oups...

why the windows were open... is not a zoo... or...

[Richprins]

This is a first death regarding foreign tourists in this sort of situation in SA, nana... very tragic and will have repercussions.



The parks give instructions to keep windows closed, I think...but the bigger question is why the lion did this? I think it is not the full story yet...

[Alf]

There are lots of signs at the gate when you enter the lion area to say please keep windows closed at all times. People don't think

[PJL]

I wonder if it being a 'lion park' means that the lions are much more used to vehicles and therefore it's not so safe to have windows open.

Personally I never close my windows at lion sightings in the wild...

[Richprins]

Wild lions are different, but they all have some instinctive reaction at some stage. As said, more to this story IMO...

[Flutterby]

They bring the food in the back of a bakkie, so I think these lions associate all vehicles with food. We saw a big male chasing a bakkie trying to climb onto the back, and these lions were very interested in this car!!



These lions are totally different to wild lions - they have no fear of humans!

[Mel]

That explanation makes sense, Flutts, because like RP I didn't think that the story was the whole truth.

[Flutterby]

We always have our windows open in Kruger, even around lions (unless they are right next to the car obviously), but I would never have my windows open at the lion park! And there are signs everywhere, so if these people had their windows open, they were being really stupid!

[nan]

right, we can't compare park and wild
me too I have MY window open and the others 10/20 cm at Lions sightings... and I'm always ready to close mine

your explanation is a good one RP, I think

[Flutterby]

Lion not to be euthanised after tourist attack

Field Guide Juluka Chauke says there are a number of reasons that could lead to lions attacking people, “As humans we all have zones where we feel comfortable. This is the same with lions. If a person pushes his luck too much with the lion, that’s where the attack will come. Then again there are many things that can cause lions to attack people depending on the state of the lion. Whether it has got cubs, hungry, injured or feeling very threatened. Depending on what we do.”

“We won’t put the lion down, certainly not,” Lion Park operations manager, Scott Simpson, says. The lion is most likely to be sent to an enclosure not open to the public. “We do have another property about 15km from here,” Simpson saysn. “We have had the property for years and we have a large collection of animals there. We probably will end up sending the lion that side because there is no public there. She can live with the lions there. But we have to have a full investigation to find out the facts before we can make any decisions.”