Lion Kills Tourist Through Open Car Window

Forum 8 years ago

Lion Kills Tourist Through Open Car Window

An American woman has been killed by a lion as she sat in a car with the windows wound down.


The lioness jumped in and bit the tourist as she sat in the passenger seat taking photographs, it was reported.


The driver, who was a tour guide, was badly hurt while trying to free the 22-year-old victim from the animal’s grasp. He is being treated for severe injuries to his arms.


Staff at the private Lion Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, chased the animal away and an ambulance arrived but the woman could not be saved.


Assistant operations manager Scott Simpson said: “There was a car driving to the lion camp and the lion came through the window and it bit the tourist.


“Unfortunately, the ambulance arrived quite soon but the lady has passed away.”


He added: “They had their windows all the way down, which is strictly against policy.”


The park said it gives clear instructions to all visitors to keep windows closed when touring the area.


Mr Simpson said: “We have signage up everywhere informing people to keep their windows closed. We hand out flyers as they are driving in reminding them to keep their windows closed.


“We really do everything we can to make sure that people know that.”


The lioness is now being kept in a separate enclosure, it is believed.


The park is a popular destination for tourists who can drive in their own vehicles through large enclosures where lions roam freely.


Visitors can also pet lion cubs in smaller pens or have supervised walks through cheetah enclosures.


Mr Simpson said the park would review its policies but he believes existing safety measures were “more than adequate” if visitors followed them.


South African media reported an Australian tourist was bitten by a lion when he was driving in the park with his windows open earlier this year.
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