An American woman on a safari was killed by a lion while her companion was hurt trying to fight off the animal at a wildlife park here.
The two were on a self-drive tour when the lion attacked them yesterday. Their windows were open, Scott Simpson, assistant operations manager at Lion Park said.
Staff members responded and chased the lion away. Paramedics were also called, but the woman's injuries proved fatal, he said.
Her companion was hurt but he is expected to survive, he said.
Meanwhile, the park remained open today and was "operating as usual."
Simpson said the lion would be taken to a second property while the park investigates.
The park has had incidents before, all stemming from open windows, he said.
"That's absolutely forbidden at our park," said Simpson. "There are numerous signs, and we hand out slips of paper to all guests warning them to keep their windows closed."
Lion Park, a wildlife center in South Africa's Gauteng province, boasts a variety of animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes and wild dogs.
