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Coroner: Lion killed woman after escaping cage
Yahoo News ^ | March 8, 2013 | TRACIE CONE and GOSIA WOZNIACKA | Associated Press

Posted on 03/08/2013 5:43:42 AM PST by Uncle Chip

DUNLAP, Calif. (AP) — The investigation into a lion attack that killed a 24-year-old woman who loved big cats is focusing on a cage door that the 550-pound animal managed to escape through to reach the volunteer intern, officials say.

Authorities said Thursday they believe the 5-year-old male lion broke the neck of the woman at a Central California animal park after it got out of its feeding cage and attacked as she cleaned its bigger area.

The investigation is continuing into how the powerful beast and Dianna Hanson came tragically to be in the same place at the same time, Fresno County coroner David Hadden said.

"The lion had been fed, the young woman was cleaning the large enclosure, and the lion was in the small cage. The gate of the cage was partially open, which allowed the lion called Cous Cous to lift it up with his paw," Hadden said, based on a briefing from investigators. "He ran at the young lady."

Hanson was talking with a co-worker on a cellphone in the moments before she was killed, the coroner said. The co-worker became concerned when the conversation ended abruptly and Hanson failed to call back. The co-worker then called authorities when she went to check on Hanson. Hadden said the lion broke Hanson's neck, probably with a swipe of a paw, killing her instantly.

Sheriff's deputies shot Cous Cous after he couldn't be coaxed away from Hanson's body.

Hanson had been working for two months as an intern at Cat Haven, a 100-acre private zoo east of Fresno. Her father, Paul Hanson, described his daughter as a "fearless" lover of big cats and said her goal was to work with the animals at an accredited zoo. She died doing what she loves, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: california; hanson; kittyping; lionkills
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To: Beagle8U

Absolutely correct. Funnily ironic screen name by the way.


21 posted on 03/08/2013 6:15:51 AM PST by Right Brother
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To: Uncle Chip

You can bet she was an dirt worshiper.

Pray for America


22 posted on 03/08/2013 6:17:25 AM PST by bray (Welcome to Obamaville)
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To: central_va
Why was the woman in a cage and why was a lion near the cage to begin with?

Did you even attempt to read the article? I mean even the excerpt at the top of the page has the information you seek.

The young woman worked as a volunteer at the big cat haven. She was cleaning the lion's pen as the lion was in a smaller enclosure being fed.

23 posted on 03/08/2013 6:20:38 AM PST by Anitius Severinus Boethius (www.wilsonharpbooks.com)
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To: central_va
Why was the woman in a cage and why was a lion near the cage to begin with?

Apparently it was an exercise in wish fulfillment by a narcissistic youth. Unlike most risky behaviors committed by narcissistic youth this one had immediate consequences.

24 posted on 03/08/2013 6:22:33 AM PST by jboot (This isn't your father's America. Stay safe and keep your powder dry.)
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To: Uncle Chip

Same thing happened with a tiger here at the San Antonio Zoo - the keeper neglected to completely shut the steel door, cat came in and started “playing” with the keeper. He managed to pull out his pepper spray and let the cat have a big dose, then escaped. My daughter worked with him a few summers ago - he has long, ugly scars all across his scalp and says, “it was completely my fault”.

Scary, but much better outcome than here.


25 posted on 03/08/2013 6:22:34 AM PST by jagusafr (the American Trinity (Liberty, In G0D We Trust, E Pluribus Unum))
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To: Uncle Chip

Hmmmm...

Put the 1/4 ton tom cat in his “feeding” cage... I’m sure being in that place evokes a visceral response from his little kitty brain...

Now, go in with your pooper scooper and cell phone... to be his personal poopy-picker-upper... chatting and yapping on your cell phone...

He looks out from his “feeding” cage (thinking of food)... as he hears some chatty yapping... “did you see animal planet last night ?”... it was just like the “lion king”... yeh, I don’t lock his feeding cage. That’s cruel, locking them up. He loves me, he’s always sniffing me, panting and drooling... he’s a sweetie...

LION’s MIND: what’s that two-legged antelope doing in my house... that friggin’ antelope... why can’t it leave my s**t alone... man I’m hungry... I’m always hungry... like Norm always wants a beer... stupid antelope never locks this gate... that’s it, I want some live meat.


26 posted on 03/08/2013 6:26:53 AM PST by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: Uncle Chip
But they are just so cute - aren't they?

/s


27 posted on 03/08/2013 6:27:19 AM PST by Iron Munro (I miss America, don't you?)
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To: central_va

“Why was the woman in a cage and why was a lion near the cage to begin with?”

That question is probably not within the coroner’s purview.


28 posted on 03/08/2013 6:29:57 AM PST by headsonpikes (Mass murder and cannibalism are the twin sacraments of socialism - "Who-whom?"-Lenin)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
I am making fun of the stupid media headline. Lighten up.

A proper headline: Lion euthanized after escaping cage, killing woman

29 posted on 03/08/2013 6:30:50 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: BigCinBigD

‘the other white meat’ - you are SO BAD.


30 posted on 03/08/2013 6:31:34 AM PST by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: Uncle Chip

I remember Rush saying, years ago, that wild animals wake up in the morning with only two thoughts in their little pea brain: Kill something, and eat it.


31 posted on 03/08/2013 6:31:37 AM PST by Fireone (Impeach and imprison, NOW! Treason and murder are still crimes.)
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To: from occupied ga
She died doing what she loves, he said.

Every time I see someone say that I cringe. I'm guessing that her last thoughts were NOT "WOW! It's really great that I'm getting killed by a lion."

Reminds me of the late little Timmy Tredwell doing what he loved to do. ...being bear food.

32 posted on 03/08/2013 6:33:12 AM PST by TexasCajun
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To: Biggirl

The only difference between a domesticated cat and a lion/tiger is 400-500 pounds.


33 posted on 03/08/2013 6:38:00 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Uncle Chip

I probably shouldn’t write this, but here goes...I think this intern was nutty and believed animals are not really any different than humans. I suspect she herself opened the lion’s cage or at least got closer to it than she had been told she should.


34 posted on 03/08/2013 6:41:18 AM PST by utahagen
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To: Resolute Conservative

How big a litter box does a 600 pound lion need?


35 posted on 03/08/2013 6:41:34 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Uncle Chip

“.. what are the odds that this naive girl...”

It makes me wonder simply because she was “frustrated” (according to the article and her family) that she couldn’t hang out with the big cats. Perhaps she did leave the cage open in hopes of an “accidental” meeting with the animal (thinking it would be loving instead of what it was).


36 posted on 03/08/2013 6:45:39 AM PST by momtothree
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To: Biggirl
Even our sweet lovable kitty cats will do from time to time the swating action.

Yes, aren't we glad they aren't big enough to eat us!

37 posted on 03/08/2013 6:47:51 AM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

“People get some deadly stupid ideas...”

There is a television show (the name escapes me right now... deadly obsession or something similar) and I am amazed at how ignorant/stupid/crazy people are with these type animals. Big cats, bulls, alligators, poisonous snakes.. you name it and there is some person that owns them, calls them “their baby” and treats them like a kittie cat or puppy. Not sure if this is some sort of death wish or just beyond stupid crazy but it exists.


38 posted on 03/08/2013 6:48:49 AM PST by momtothree
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To: TexasCajun
Reminds me of the late little Timmy Tredwell doing what he loved to do. ...being bear food.

Agreed. Despite the fanatic and fervent belief of some many idiots that animals are just furry humans, they are NOT. (Dog owners come to mind in this regard.) Too many kids actually believe that Bambi is a nature documentary and never outgrow that stupidity.

39 posted on 03/08/2013 6:51:07 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: Uncle Chip
If the liberal idiot would have been carrying a semi-automatic 45 she would be alive today.

A lion got her for being and idiot 2x , for wanting to play with lions and for not carrying a gun. At least she died quickly , a rapist might have gotten her and did to her what one did to Hope Melton. 300,000 women get raped per year in the U.S. , 2.5 million home invasions per year in the U.S.A but the liberal news media ignore those stats.

I carry a gun and I'm a southern male but anything be it a bear , lion or thug that comes at me the wrong way gets the lead.

40 posted on 03/08/2013 6:51:28 AM PST by Democrat_media (media makes mass shooters household names to create more & take our guns)
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