03/01/2008 14:31 - (SA)


Pretoria - A 36-year-old game lodge caretaker was killed when he was attacked by lions at a Swartruggens game lodge in North West, police said on Thursday.

Superintendent Lesego Metsi said Samuel Boosen died when he was attacked by lions at the Aloe Ridge Lodge on Tuesday.

"The incident occurred at around 16:30 when he - together with two others - went to the enclosure of about eight or nine lions. He went inside the enclosure and was eaten. Only (his) spine and skull remained," said Metsi.

The other two men - who Boosen had asked to accompany him - were outside the enclosure when the incident happened.

Metsi said that Boosen had been working at the lodge for about four years at the time of the incident.

"An inquest docket has been opened and no foul play is suspected," said Metsi.

Yikes! Now here is a question - why would you willingly go into an enclosure with wild lions? I don't think they even do that here in zoos unless the lions have been tranqued or are being held back by poles/holding loops by other staff members.

Lions gotta eat too!

While in Namibia in May, I had the opportunity to help move a 3 year old male lion (that had been darted) into another 60 acre enclosure. We rolled it onto a tarp, and it took four of us to raise it up and put him in the pickup. Filled the Toyota bed, and was certainly impressive, looking at the musculature and claws. Being that close, and actually touching him, was something I will never forget.

The lioness stayed out about 40 yards, and we did have an experienced guide with a 375 H&H watching her. Put two orphaned cubs with her, to learn to raise, and see how they would do.

I guess I was a LEO criminal investigator too long. What were the other two doing while Boosen was killed and ate? Only thing left was skull and spine....pretty good way to dispose of evidence of murder. I would be doing a lot more investigation before I suspected "no foul play".

Larry Gibson

How many people get eaten by lions in Africa? Nobody really knows, I'd guess, what with the refugees from Zim heading south through Kruger, but I heard over 60 in Tanzamia last year, I seem to recall. Might be wrong on that. Maybe it was 40. That's Africa, Larry.

seems to me that it would take a little while for 8 or 9 lions to eat a man completely(15-20 minutes?). what were his pals doing all this time?

I wonder just how and for how much he screwed his two "buddies"??