Lions kill female keeper, 21, after attacking her in enclosure at private game reserve in South Africa
A WOMAN has been mauled to death by the lions she worked with at a game reserve in Limpopo, South Africa.
Swans van Wyke, 21, is said to have been carrying out her daily duties when she fell prey to the beasts at the unnamed game reserve.
Staff members were alerted by the woman’s horrific screams after she somehow managed to escape from the enclosure.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and found her covered in blood with deep bite and claw wounds.
She was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries.
Police have launched an investigation at the game reserve at Bela-Bela in Limpopo Province – but said they have no idea how many of the lions attacked her.
An inquest has been opened and police are interviewing staff at the lodge.
South African Police spokesman, Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said: “Our initial investigations show she was performing her duties when attacked by an unknown number of lions.
“The circumstances leading to this tragic incident are still unknown at this stage”.
The police said they could not comment on whether the lions involved would be destroyed and that it was a matter for the game lodge and relevant authorities.
There are dozens of game lodges in the area and the exact lodge where the lions turned on their keeper has not yet been revealed – but it is understood to have closed its gate to the public while traumatised staff recuperate.
Kishor Parmar was said to be sleeping in an open area in Uchaiya, in India’s Amreli district when he was attacked by the lioness at around 1am.
The big cat killed Rono Kipkirui Simion outside Nairobi National Park, Kenya, shortly after he went missing as he was heading home from work on Friday.
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His head and arm were all that remained at the scene, the Daily Nation reported.
His brother told local news: “Some parts of his body were scattered on the ground.
“His employer tried to scare away the lion but it could not leave”.