British wildlife park owner mauled by lion in South Africa

A British wildlife park owner has been mauled by a male lion in South Africa after entering its enclosure.

Shocking footage is believed to show Mike Hodge being pounced on by the lion as he tries to leave through a gate, before he is dragged off towards some bushes.

Horrified onlookers can be heard screaming as the video shows a man being attacked and pawed further by the big cat at Marakele Animal Sanctuary in Thabazimbi.

It was reported that Hodge entered the lion’s enclosure over concerns about a smell in the compound that was bothering it.

A South African police spokesman, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, told News24 that Hodge had suffered injuries to his neck and jaw in the incident, which happened on Monday.

“The owner was immediately taken to hospital with serious injuries. He is currently recuperating,” he added.

The animal park’s website states Mike and Chrissy Hodge moved to South Africa from the UK in 1999 and opened their lion project in 2003.

Realising that there was a need for a tourist attraction closer to the town of Thabazimbi, they eventually opened the Marakele Animal Sanctuary in December 2010.

A friend who did not want to be named told the Sun: “He is no fool around lions and knows how to interact with them, but clearly something went wrong.”

from Environment | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2FwPWHH
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