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Lioness kills Johannesburg zoo worker after security gates are left open Lioness kills Johannesburg zoo worker after security gates are left open
(40 minutes later)
A lioness sprung at the throat of a zoo worker and killed him, apparently because security gates were left open, Johannesburg Zoo said on Tuesday. A lioness sprung at the throat of a zoo worker and killed him after security gates were apparently left open, Johannesburg Zoo said on Tuesday.
Colleagues heard Joe Ramonetha screaming on Monday and rushed to help but were too late, said zoo spokeswoman Letta Madlala. The 63-year-old was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, she said.Colleagues heard Joe Ramonetha screaming on Monday and rushed to help but were too late, said zoo spokeswoman Letta Madlala. The 63-year-old was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, she said.
Ramonetha had been feeding the 11-year-old lioness or cleaning out her enclosure on the zoo's conservation farm in Parys, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Johannesburg, Madlala said. Ramonetha had been feeding the 11-year-old lioness or cleaning out her enclosure on the zoo's conservation farm in Parys, about 120km (75 miles) from Johannesburg, Madlala said.
Investigators found that gates were left open due to human error, the zoo's executive manager for education, Louise Gordon, said in a statement. She said there had not been a fatal animal attack at the zoo in 50 years.Investigators found that gates were left open due to human error, the zoo's executive manager for education, Louise Gordon, said in a statement. She said there had not been a fatal animal attack at the zoo in 50 years.
"The staff are trained to close all gates on entering the facility, to let the lions out into the outside camp area, secure the entrances to the night rooms and passage before any work commenced," Gordon said. "Joe was attacked in the staff passage and sustained a fatal bite wound to his throat.""The staff are trained to close all gates on entering the facility, to let the lions out into the outside camp area, secure the entrances to the night rooms and passage before any work commenced," Gordon said. "Joe was attacked in the staff passage and sustained a fatal bite wound to his throat."
Madlala said Ramonetha had worked for the zoo since 1970. He leaves a wife and four adult children.Madlala said Ramonetha had worked for the zoo since 1970. He leaves a wife and four adult children.
Zoo managers would meet to decide the fate of the lioness called Nyanga, she said.Zoo managers would meet to decide the fate of the lioness called Nyanga, she said.
South Africa has about 2,700 lions in the wild, and 4,000 in captivity.South Africa has about 2,700 lions in the wild, and 4,000 in captivity.