Girls bitten at lion farm
2010-01-05 14:14
Bloemfontein - Two sisters were traumatised after being attacked by lionesses at a lion farm in the Free State, Beeld newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The girls, aged 3 and 5, had visited the Weltevreden Lion Farm between Heilbron and Sasolburg with their family over the weekend.
The newspaper quoted the girls' mother, Lozelle van Heerden, as saying the family took an escorted walk through the lion farm, after two adult lion males had been led to an isolated camp.
"They guide told us lions always choose the easiest and smallest prey, but the children were still allowed to play with the lions in the camp."
The youngest girl, Milla, apparently bent down to pet one of the lions, when an eight-month-old lioness jumped on her from behind and got hold of her ponytail.
Van Heerden said it was a battle to get the lion off the girl and she received several bite and scratch wounds to her head. Another lioness bit the older sister, Anzelle, on her bum while her mother was carrying her on her hip.
'Not teddy bears'
The family was led to safety by the farm's owner, Nico Roets.
Roets told the paper lions are dangerous wild animals, not teddy bears.
"People don't realise that and just want to touch and pet them."
He said the attacks were only play-bites and not bites to eat or harm.
"Sometimes they play a little rough," he said.
The children were treated for light injuries at the Midvaal Hospital in Vereeniging.
- SAPA
