Lion bites off arm of tourist...
Discussion
As an adjunct to the "what does your cat eat" thread...
www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/3156181?source=Evening%20Standard
www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/3156181?source=Evening%20Standard
priceless. I think I need a lion or two...
Lion bites off arm of British tourist
30 January 2003
A British tourist is in a serious condition in a Spanish hospital today after having her arm ripped off by a lion at a wildlife park.
The 54-year-old woman left her tour group and scaled a three metre high barrier before putting her fingers through a space in the fence to try to stroke the big cat.
But as she reached out the lioness, called Marta, jumped at her. According to the manager of El Arca Sanctuary for Wild Animals near Alicante the lioness grabbed the woman's fingers before she could pull them away.
The cat then tugged with such force that the woman's arm was pulled through the gap. Half the limb was bitten off in the attack. Surgeons amputated what was left of the arm from just above the elbow.
According to a spokesman at the hospital in Vila Joiosa, the woman, who has not been named, is in a serious but not life threatening condition.
Serafin Domenech, founder of the El Arca Sanctuary which is a refuge for sick animals and those treated badly in Spain's zoos and circuses, described the woman's actions as "extremely foolish" and "going against all the sanctuary's security recommendations".
He said: "She split from her tour group and climbed the fence with the clear intention of stroking the lioness."
"When the animal jumped at her and grabbed her hand she tried to pull it back, but it was too late.
"The lioness had pulled enough of the arm through to be able to bite off about half of it."
A spokesman for Spain's police said the force was launching an investigation.
Of course the animal is likel to be put down after attacking a human.
Hello McFly! She scaled a 3 meter high barrier, then reached through the bars of a cage to stroke a large carnivore weighing about 3 times what she does.
What did she think it was going to do, roll over and purr while she scratched its tum?
Even domesticated cats shred their owners occasionally and a 400 lb lion is not your a house pet.
Hello McFly! She scaled a 3 meter high barrier, then reached through the bars of a cage to stroke a large carnivore weighing about 3 times what she does.
What did she think it was going to do, roll over and purr while she scratched its tum?
Even domesticated cats shred their owners occasionally and a 400 lb lion is not your a house pet.
In this country maybe.... but in Spain? I doubt it...
TheLemming said: Of course the animal is likel to be put down after attacking a human.
It's probably one of the great things about countries like Spain - that this sort of thing can happen there.. and it really couldn't happen here in the UK.. people are not protected from themselves to the nth degree in places like Spain.. naturally the EU take a dim view of this, but since the Spanish take a siesta when the EU spouts forth, it's not a problem..
This reminds me of a story when I lived in Johannesburg. there's a lion park just north of the city. About 40 lions in there and you drive through the compound so you really feel like a safari-boy.
There's a sign as you go in that recommends you keep you car moving because the lions have been known to chew tyres.
Anyway, it seems two Koreans visited the place and actually got out the car to take pictures. No one was surprised when they were eaten. Puts a whole new meaning on the term Korean Takeaway.
There's a sign as you go in that recommends you keep you car moving because the lions have been known to chew tyres.
Anyway, it seems two Koreans visited the place and actually got out the car to take pictures. No one was surprised when they were eaten. Puts a whole new meaning on the term Korean Takeaway.
I've seen a similar thing late night on ITV. 'When Animals Attack' or something.
2 tourists were stood by a polar bear cage. One is taking a photo of the other. The subject of the photo climbs over the 3 foot safety wall,corsses a large gap of land and proceeds to satnd stands right next to bars of the bears cage. The bear casually put his arm through and grabs hold of the silly cow. Fortunately she escaped with minor injuries.
On the same program a bloke on safari in Africa got out of his car and walked about 10 foot away from it to film some lions with a kill.
Not surprisingly another lion turns up and kills him.
You have to marvel at some peoples stupidity.
on the thread of tourists doing stupid things, did I not hear about some English bloke who was camping in Africa a few years back, and was told to sleep with the tent flaps shut. Said bloke slept with em open, and when Leo & his mates came into the camp of an evening, they had themselves a tourist sarny. I also believe the tour guide had a gun, but didn't fire it 'incase he killed the tourist' ..... I think I would have shot in their direction even if it was just to put the silly beggar out of his misery, rather than leaving it to a pack of hungry lions 
:closestthingtoalionsmiley:
:closestthingtoalionsmiley:
Hmm!? If only we could turn it into an Olympic event 
This reminds me of an incident that happened in Camperdown zoo in Dundee over 10 years ago I think. A teenage boy thought it would be funny to poke a grizzly bear with a stick after climbing over a fence. The bear proceded to rip his arm out its socket.
Some rules should not be broken.
Some rules should not be broken.
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