South African gamekeeper mauled to death by three lions while fixing enclosure's broken fence
Three lions mauled a gamekeeper to death at the Mahala View Lodge in the Dinokeng Game Reserve around 30 miles north of Pretoria., South Africa, on Tuesday, August 20.
The man in question was identified as Leon van Biljon by the local media. He was said to be fixing a broken fence in the lions' enclosure when the incident happened, Daily Mail reported.
He was reportedly sitting with his back to the three big cats, whom he owned, when one of them attacked him around the neck. The 70-year-old gamekeeper, who was given the nickname "the lion man" as he was the owner of a number of lions in the reserve, was already dead by the time the paramedics arrived on the scene.
Van Biljon offered lectures on lions, fed the animals and organized game drives for guests.
Xander Loubser, a private medic who was present at the scene, said that the staff at the lodge shot and killed the lions responsible for the tragedy because they were otherwise not able to retrieve the gamekeeper's body from inside the enclosure.
"The decision to shoot the lions was made by people on the premises in order to get to the deceased," Loubser told News 24. "We are awaiting the arrival of the official paramedic to get more information about the incident. It is now a police matter, so the man's remains have not yet been removed."
"Ambu-Link received a call of a lion attack at Dinokeng. We received information that the male [patient] was unresponsive and that a few lions were shot. We were also informed that the patient was not safe to approach as there was still a third lion in close proximity," he added.
Cullinan police spokesperson Constable Connie Moganedi said that the caretaker of the facility was the one who was the first one to see the victim getting mauled by the lions and shouted for help. Van Biljon's son-in-law arrived at the game reserve upon learning about his relative's death. He said the family was still shocked by the tragic incident.
Fiona Miles, director of FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Foundation in South Africa, expressed her condolences and offered her deepest sympathy to the deceased's family. However, she also mentioned that the attacks could have been avoided had they had uncessary human-wildlife interaction. She reiterated that no matter how habituated or tame the animals might seem they remain unpredictable and instinctive. Highlighting what could have led to the attack she said, "The predator’s instinct will seek out certain characteristics and identify easy prey, i.e. the small, weak, slow and sick."