A well-known South African conservationist,West Matthewson has died after he was mauled by two white lions as he was taking them for a walk.
The lions were personally trained by him and he had known them since they were cubs.
The wife of West Mathewson, who followed in a car, tried to distract the lions during the seeming attack but it was too late. His relatives have said that Wednesday’s attack could have been the result of very rough play.
A lioness became aggressive towards the other and then turned her attention to the conservationist, Mr West Matthewson.
The lionesses have since been moved to another game lodge and are expected to be released into the wild at a later stage.
Mr Mathewson is said to have rescued the lions from “canned hunting” – when animals are hunted in an enclosed area, or they are bred to be hunted – and they were kept in an enclosure at his lodge.
