Campaign calls for wild animal interaction following a 4-year-old’s lioness attack

The Campaign Against Canned Hunting calls for a ban on wild animal interactions.

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This comes after a lioness reportedly grabbed a 4-year-old while in her father’s arms through a fence at Weltevrede Lion Farm in Heilbron, Freestate on the weekend.

It reportedly tore and penetrated her skull with its paws.

The father sustained minor injuries.

According to a News24 report, the toddler and her family visited the lion park on their way home from a holiday and during their visit, headed to one of the camps so that Dina-Marie could pet a cub.

The report further states that she was last reported to be in an induced coma at Netcare Union Hospital in Alberton.

Last week, a part of her skull was reportedly removed to relieve pressure on her brain. She’s set to return to the theatre on Tuesday to have a monitor removed from her skull and to assess the progress she has made. 

The owner of the farm, Nico Roets expressed that he felt extremely sorry for the De Beer family.

“We are praying for her recovery. As soon as visitors are allowed, we would like to visit her.”

Animals are habituated to human contact and as such don’t fear people, increasing the risk of attacks stated the campaign.

“These were terrible freak accidents. Those lions are wild animals and they act on instinct. If someone turns their back on them, they want to jump them,” said Roets.