Posted on 02/28/2018 8:53:32 PM PST by marktwain
8:15 'Lion whisperer' reveals how big cat escaped to maul girl, 22
South Africa's "lion whisperer" has admitted he was walking the big cat which mauled a 22-year-old to death.
Conservationist Kevin Richardson has said he is "devastated" by the incident.
In an Instagram post, Mr Richardson revealed he and an "experienced" colleague had taken three lions out for their normal weekly walk on Tuesday morning when things went wrong.
"We assessed the landscape for other big five animals and as per procedure sent out a notification that we were walking in the reserve," he wrote.
"One of the lionesses charged off after an Impala and must have run 2 to 2.5km where she encountered the 22-year-old outside the car.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Taking African lions for a walk. What could go wrong?
Here’s a whisper for this guy: prison.
Was the girl driving an Impala? /s
Heres a whisper for this guy: prison.
Really hard to find the article but thanks.
yikes, what a way to go.
Horrible, huh? Look up and see a lioness charging down on you at 30 mph, roaring, then leaping at you. Shudder!
If the post actually linked to an article, perhaps I could have read that.
Turns out, no. Your info is wrong. Here is an update from a local news source.
https://rekordeast.co.za/162647/update-chilling-details-lion-attack/
One of the lionesses charged off after an Impala and must have run between two and 2.5km before she encountered and attacked the woman.
Chilling details on how a young woman was killed by a lion in the Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary, Hammanskraal emerged on Wednesday.
The attack happened on Tuesday morning.
ALSO READ: BREAKING NEWS: Woman killed in north lion attack
A statement by his spokesperson, Janine Lloyd, confirmed the attack took place at the Richardsons tented camp at the Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve.
Richardson is quoted as saying: 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.
He said one of the lionesses charged off after an Impala and must have run between two and 2.5km before she encountered and attacked the woman.
The victim was not a guest at the sanctuary, but had accompanied her friend to conduct an interview for an assignment with the camps manager.
Before leaving the reserve, the two visitors were taking photographs outside the camp where the attack occurred.
Our condolences and heartfelt sympathies go out to her family at this very difficult time, said Lloyd.
I am devastated and my heart goes out to this young womans family.
Richardson said it was not unusual for lions being taken for a walk to break away to chase game along the way.
He tried to follow the lioness but lost sight of her, said Lloyd.
He [then] 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 he attended to the other two lions.
Lloyd said Richardson rushed to the scene where he proceeded to conduct CPR.
Cullinan police spokesperson Constable Connie Moganedi said the identity of the woman could not yet be confirmed as the investigation is still ongoing and not all her next of kin had been informed yet.
So there is a “tented camp” and a game “reserve” but it is not entirely clear what the relationship may be between camp and reserve. Do people visit the camp in order to experience the reserve, or are they separate operations? In any case, someone briefly visiting the “camp” to interview the camp manager was caught outside the safe perimeter, it seems.....
That is terrible. He might be up for some prison time. And that company had better have good liability coverage.
I worked with large carnivores for quite a few years. Eight years directly, as a keeper, and then as a researcher during and after the time I went to University to get my degrees. I long ago developed a hard and fast rule: Any time I hear any sort of so-called ‘animal professional’ describe themselves as a ‘whisperer’, or allow themselves to be described in that way, I immediately dismiss them as a crank. Ultimately, over the long term, I have NEVER been proven wrong on this.
The best animal people I’ve ever met and worked with are typically almost NEVER telegenic, let alone photogenicthey’re the people at the zoo that you never actually see, because they’re not ‘beautiful’ and/or personable enough to put out in the public.
They’re often gruff, uncouth, slovenly, and have personalities that are difficult to get along with, but they’re amazing with animals.
I think so since it’s capitalized...
There’s a lot of people who keep exotic and dangerous “pets” . It should be totally outlawed. There’s been a lot of incidents that have happened over the years where people and kids were injured and killed by some animal that belonged in the wild.Oh by the way,pit bulls and their owners should be outlawed as well.
Agreed and agreed. I would like to make one exception, however, and that is for cheetahs. They are so critically endangered that I hate thinking about their existence being left in the hands of native Africans. Besides that, there is the theory that they were originally domesticated by the Egyptians for hunting, the evidence being in ancient Egyptian art and the similarity of dna between individual cheetahs. They are the least wild of the big cats as far as behavior goes, as well.
As for their endangerment, if you want more of something, make it a marketable commodity. Thats why we have countless chickens and cows. Besides, if wealthy Arabs can drive around with them in their Lamborghinis I dont see why a responsible Texan rancher shouldnt be allowed to keep a breeding pair on his land.
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