Zimbabwe lion kills SAfrican volunteer at animal sanctuary; lion shot and killed in attack

Zimbabwe: Lion kills volunteer at animal sanctuary

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A Zimbabwean animal sanctuary says a fully grown male lion has mauled and killed a South African volunteer at the sanctuary in western Zimbabwe.

The Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage says the lion attacked and killed conservationist Robyn Lotz after the gate of its pen was inadvertently left open. Thursday’s statement says sanctuary head Kevin Wilson shot and killed the lion as Lotz struggled to free herself. Lotz, 26, died at a hospital in nearby Bulawayo shortly after Tuesday’s attack.

It was the sanctuary’s first human fatality since it was founded three decades ago.

While lion attacks are rare, they periodically occur on game lodges and sanctuaries in southern Africa. Lions are mostly carnivorous and are skilled hunters.