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Subscribe to RSSA lioness named Nyanga attacked and killed a 63-year-old South African zookeeper on Monday, apparently because security gates were left open, the Johannesburg Zoo said Tuesday.
Colleagues heard Joe Ramonetha screaming and rushed to help but it was too late, zoo spokeswoman Letta Madlala said. Ramonetha, suffering a severe bite to the neck, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, she said.
Ramonetha had been feeding the 11-year-old lioness or cleaning out her enclosure at a rural lion breeding farm in Parys that is managed by the Johannesburg Zoo, about 75 miles southwest of Johannesburg, Madlala said.
The zoo's executive manager for education, Louise Gordon, called Ramonetha’s death a “terrible accident.” She said there had not been a fatal animal attack at the zoo in 50 years.
"Joe was attacked in the staff passage and sustained a fatal bite wound to his throat," Gordon said. She said staff are trained to close gates when they enter the lion area and to release them to an outside camp area before starting to work in the enclosure.
Zoo managers will meet to decide the fate of Nyanga the lioness. The lioness was tranquilized and moved to a separate cage following the incident, according to the BBC.
Ramonetha had worked at the zoo for more than 40 years and was an experienced handler. He is survived by his wife and four children.
South Africa has about 2,700 free-ranging lions and 4,000 lions in captivity.
Msnbc.com staff contributed to this report from The Associated Press.
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Why should the lioness's "fate" be something to be decided? Someone left the gate open-- they should be disciplined. The lioness was only acting as a lioness does. She should not be killed for a human's mistake.
if people work in a zoo, they should understand how animals think and why they act out. this lionness should definitely not be euthanized due to the error of a human. she doesn't know any better, humans are supposed to be smarter. any zoo that would authorize this is not a zoo that is looking out for their animals. it's a tragedy for this family, but his job was to look out for the animals. and the zoo needs to continue to look out for the best interests of the animals. this lionness did not do anything wrong, he made a mistake. let her be. it's bad enough the poachers are murdering all the lions in africa, we can't afford to lose one more lion. if this zoo allows this, they should be reprimanded by animal agencies as it would not be right.
Guess someone better organize a Nyanga Defense Fund. I'll be the first to contribute.
Sorry to hear ....
Problem is when a dangerous animal carnivore loses its fear of humans by attacking, and killing one they can become terribly aggressive towards all people. Afterall, their instinct from birth is that they control the top of the food chain. ... It would be a tough decision to put this animal down, but I don't believe it killed for food, hatred of being locked up maybe, but not food. Like humans, when you are kept captive, caged your instinct is to be free, and animals can feel the emotion of 'hatred'. The churning yearn in the pit of the hearts of these lions to roam freely cannot be denied. ....... Lions are not an endangered species quite yet (?) ... This zoo tries to control 'about 2700 free ranging lions, and has 4000 in captivity'. ... The cloning processes that have been developed over the last 20 years should be used to ensure that these king of beasts will never become extinct on this Blue Earth while humans think they are in control. ... Or would you rather clone sheep?
Booooooooooooorn Freeeeeeeeee! Yea my azz! Kill the person who left the gate open singing BORN FREE!and didn't see the man cleaning up the lion crap! jeSus!
YEA! you Wanna hang out in a lion pen, Bwana! WELL! I would think you'd know your at the bottom of the food chain! ANIMALCRACKER!
SO much for the Great Escape Sequel!
first my condolences to the family
Problem #!, animals do not belong in zoos to satisfy our need for entertainment.
Problem #2, see problem #1