American tourist attacked and killed by lion during African Safari Park tour

When one 22 year old tourist from the United States planned her trip to South Africa, being mauled and attacked by a big angry cat was definitely not part of her itinerary. Unfortunately for this young woman, it turned out this trip would be her last. 

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Last Monday, she and her companion, who was believed to be her tour guide, went to the safari park located just an hour's drive from Johannesburg, to experience the wildlife and take photographs of the majestic wild cats that roamed around the park.

According to Scott Simpson, a Gauteng Lion Park employee, the lioness approached the left side of the tour car and got a little bit too close. The tourist was about a meter away when she tried to take photos of the cat. That was when the cat lunged at the unsuspecting woman through the window of the passenger side and bit her, the witnesses claimed.

The American tourist was dragged out of the car and mauled by the lioness. Park employees rushed to get the cat off the already seriously injured woman and her companion, and immediately called paramedics to perform CPR and to provide immediate medical attention. However, the tourist passed away soon after.

To date, this is the safari park's third lion attack incident in the past four months. These, plus a series of accusations of "canned hunting" operations, have placed the park in hot water.

The park's management has blatantly repudiated all accusations saying that the park was designed and created to foster tourism and family bonding in the country. With 85 lions in the park to take care of, it is quite a daunting task to ensure that their lions will keep their distance from the tourists.

Tourists, on the other hand, are constantly reminded to keep their doors locked and their windows closed to avoid any accidents and attacks. Park management claims that signs are placed all over the park's premises to keep everyone safe at all times.

Since the incident, that cat has been placed in solitary confinement, but the park made no mention of putting it down because of the woman's death.

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