Lion mauls 4-year-old girl
19/04/2009 23:34 - (SA)


Marisa Phillips


Bothaville - A four-year-old girl is recovering from her wounds after she was attacked by a lioness on her parents' farm.

Little Zanri Mostert was in the operating theatre for more than two hours where the gashes made by the lion's claws were stiched up.

Antoinette Mostert, Zanri's mother, says she wants to tell people what happened in order to warn them to never leave children alone near wild animals. Even though her own children have grown up around lions, Zanri still became a victim.

Covered in blood

The enormous enclosures on the Mosterts' farm, Lapdoorns, are often held as an example for lion breeders. However, Antoinette says the electric fencing was switched off when Zanri was attacked.

Antoinette said that her estranged husband, Thys, and Zanri were pottering around the farm about four weeks ago.

"The ewes and their lambs are in a camp which is only about a road's width from the lion enclosures. Zanri and Thys were seeing to the sheep and afterward they went back to the house."

Antoinette was in the house, a mere stone's throw from the enclosure, when she heard her husband screaming. He came running toward her with Zanri, covered in blood, in his arms.

She had probably been sitting near one of the lion enclosures and put her feet through the fence.

The lioness put her paws through the fence and grabbed and slashed at Zanri several times. There were also bruises on her face where she was pushed against the fence.

There are three lionesses in the particular enclosure and Antoinette isn't sure which one is responsible for the attack.

'Lion bit her'

Somehow Zanri managed to free herself and started to crawl away. It was then that her father found her. Her wounds were seen to at the hospital in Klerksdorp.

"It's a miracle that she's alive. She doesn't want to go near the lions at all now. She just says the lion bit her.

"My message to all parents is never to leave your children alone for even a second."

The Mosterts have been breeding lions on their farm for years.

Thys, the chair of the Predator Breeding Association in the Free State, has said he would rather not comment on the incident, and stands by what his wife has said.

- Volksblad

I wonder how many times this kind of thing is going to happen? Thank God the girl is okay.

David

When will people learn that there is no such thing as a tame lion or any other large cat.

465H&H

How could this happen...nearly everyone on AR claim all lions held in enclosures are docile and or drugged 100% of the time!

Even a docile lion can hurt a puny human. Why don't you book with this guy 2th doc? Then you could set up your blind in the sheep kraal!

Bahhhhhhh Bahhhhhhh

I thought CATS went "meow, meow". Maybe latest re-incarnation of "The Reverend" can do a repeat performance. jorge

jorge you seem to have a fetish for feline . Possibly you could stop by the "vet" hospital for a free fix of pussy.

Sure thing Terrence, my prostate works great. jorge

I told you I'd figure it out soon enough though I admit to using the search feature here to do so. Sorry to disappoint you!

Terrence, you're easier to catch than flies with horseshit. You might try working on your grammar and syntax, or better yet your bullshit. jorge

This Cat's fellow must have burrowed deep under your skin for some reason enjoy your games you're now on my ignore list. Do a Google on Mark Steinberg

quote:

Antoinette Mostert, Zanri's mother, says she wants to tell people what happened in order to warn them to never leave children alone near wild animals. Even though her own children have grown up around lions, Zanri still became a victim . . .

She had probably been sitting near one of the lion enclosures and put her feet through the fence.

The lioness put her paws through the fence and grabbed and slashed at Zanri several times. There were also bruises on her face where she was pushed against the fence. . .

"It's a miracle that she's alive. She doesn't want to go near the lions at all now. She just says the lion bit her.

Somehow, I get the feeling that this wouldn't have happened to a child who wasn't raised around lions, especially by these people. I'm sure it took a lot of conditioning through learning-by-example to get her to want to go near the lions in the first place. Unfortunately, the lions themselves had to see to the deficiency in her training, and recalibrate her to what should have been the original, default position.

465H&H...You're right...There is no such thing as a tame 4-legged big cat. Just ask Roy of Siegfreid and Roy Las Vegas fame. He's still jacked up to this day after being attacked by one of his "pets." Bet a lot of guys would have paid good money to shoot that "pet" too!

Moja