Tourist killed by lion in SA

An American tourist was killed recently in Lion Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. Despite all the warnings that she should have kept her car windows closed inside the park, she rolled it down to make a picture of a lion that was only a few feet away from her. The lion attacked and wounded her mortally, her companion who tried to save her was injured.

I can understand that this incident raises questions about the safety of ‘going on safari’, where open vehicles are used. I even use a (self drive) vehicle without any doors! Although I have to agree that risks are never completely zero, I want to emphasize that there is a big difference between a really wild animal and the lions and other predators in parks like these. Lion Park is a zoo. The animals do not hunt for themselves, but are fed by humans. And that is exactly why they are so dangerous. Wild lions have a natural fear for humans, and rightfully so. Lions seldom kill humans, but humans often kill lions. A lion that has no fear for humans will not survive in the wild for very long! Wild lions also do not associate vehicles with food. That’s why they simply ignore the tourist cars. Lions in animal parks have lost this fear and do associate humans and cars with food. That’s why they are unpredictable and very dangerous and why you shouldn’t take any chances with these ‘tame’ animals.