NATIONAL NEWS - A lioness that attacked and killed an American tourist at the Lion Park outside Johannesburg will not be put down.
Instead, the animal will be removed from its pride and relocated in an enclosure in the park where it will no longer have contact with visitors, according to the park's assistant operating manager Scott Simpson.
Animal behaviour experts said it would be unfair to punish the big cat. Lion "whisperer" Kevin Richardson said the lioness had reacted instinctively and cautioned against taking punitive measures.
"She acted like a lion. She did nothing wrong. You can't blame the lion." he said.
The adult lioness mauled the tourist - who has yet to be identified - in the face and neck through an open window of the car in which she was a passenger in the park yesterday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses described to park authorities how the lioness attacked the woman who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Her companion attempted to beat the animal off but he was also mauled. Park officials eventually drove the lioness off by shouting and then called paramedics.
Animal behaviour experts said it would be unfair to punish the big cat. Lion "whisperer" Kevin Richardson said the lioness had reacted instinctively and cautioned against taking punitive measures.
"She acted like a lion. She did nothing wrong. You can't blame the lion." he said.
The adult lioness mauled the tourist - who has yet to be identified - in the face and neck through an open window of the car in which she was a passenger in the park yesterday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses described to park authorities how the lioness attacked the woman who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Her companion attempted to beat the animal off but he was also mauled. Park officials eventually drove the lioness off by shouting and then called paramedics.
