Lion in a cage

Incident report 2010-2020 

Tragic occurrences of injuries sustained through interactions with big cats in South Africa

27.7.2021

Interactions with wild animals can result in severe injuries and can often be fatal. Between 2010-2020, in South Africa alone there were 33 serious incidences, and nine people were killed during an interaction with a big cat.

January 2010 

Two girls are attacked and bitten by a lioness on a ‘lion walk’

Weltevrede Lion Farm, Heilbron, Gauteng 

November 2011 

A man in injured by a lioness in a Lion Park through the windows of a car

The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng 

February 2012 

A keeper is killed by a lion at a farm owned by Johannesburg Zoo

Parys Zoo Farm Free State 

March 2012 

The owner of a tiger is attacked suffered puncture wounds and two broken ribs

Tiger Canyons, Philipollis, Free State 

May 2012 

A woman is bitten on her face and is left with lacerations on her arm and leg by a lion

Tshukudu Game Lodge, Hoedspruit, Limpopo 

July 2013 

A woman is attacked by two lions and suffered severe puncture wounds

Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Limpopo

December 2013

A man is attacked by a lion through the window of the car

The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng

April 2014

A man is mauled to death by lions

East London Zoo, Eastern Cape

April 2014

A man is attacked by two lions when feeding them

Bagamoya Wildlife Estate, Bloemfontein, Free State

May 2014

A boy is attacked by tiger cub and required staples to the back of his head, arm and fingers

Mbidi Lodge / Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary, Groblersdal, Mpumalanga

March 2015

A man is attacked in a lion park through the windows of a vehicle

The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng

June 2015

A woman is attacked and killed by lioness at a lion park

The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng

June 2015

A woman is bitten during a cheetah interaction

KwaCheetah, Kwazulu-Natal

August 2015

A woman is injured during a cheetah interaction

KwaCheetah, Kwazulu-Natal

August 2015

A young boy is bitten by a cheetah

KwaCheetah, Kwazulu-Natal

June 2015

A woman is attacked by a lion and dies, and a tour guide is injured

The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng

February 2015

A girl is attacked by lions after entering its enclosure during an interaction

Kudu’s Rus, North West 

April 2016

A young boy is attacked by a tiger and required surgery on his face, legs and arms

Tau Thaba Game and Lion Lodge, Free State

August 2016

A young boy dies after sustaining injuries from a lion attack after it escapes its enclosure

Otavi Game Lodge, Parys, Free State

October 2016

A young boy is attacked by a lion and reportedly required immediate throat surgery

Letaba River Lodge Eco Park, Tzaneen

January 2017 

A man dies after sustaining injuries following an attack by a lion.

(The man suffered wounds to his legs, torso, stomach and chest. He was diabetic and died seven days later, although the provincial health department said he had died due to “other diseases”; saying his death could not be attributed to the lion attack.)

Lion Tree Top Lodge, Hoedspruit, Limpopo

March 2017

A 3 year old boy is attacked and dies from injuries following an attack by a cheetah

Tiger Canyons, Philipollis, Free State

March 2017

A girl is attacked during a cheetah interaction

Emdoneni Safari Park/ Lodge & Cheetah Project, Hluhluwe
KwaZulu-Natal

March 2017

A boy is attacked during a cheetah interaction

Emdoneni Safari Park / Lodge & Cheetah Project, Hluhluwe
KwaZulu-Natal

April 2017

A boy dies after being attacked by a pet lion, his grandmother sustained severe injuries

Private property, Lephalale, Limpopo

February 2018

A body is found mauled by captive lions

Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, Limpopo

February 2018

A woman dies after being attacked during a ‘lion walk’

The Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve, Gauteng

May 2018

A man is attacked by the lion he owns and sustains severe injuries

Marakele Predator Centre, Limpopo

April 2019

A man is severely injured after being bitten by a lion

Tikwe River Lodge, Virginia, Free State

May 2019

 A young girl is attacked by a lioness and she was put into an induced coma for a sustained period following the attack

Weltevrede Lion Farm, Heilbron, Free State

August 2019

A man is mauled to death by his captive lions

Mahala View Lion Lodge, Gauteng

February 2020

A woman working on a captive facility, is killed by lions

Zwartkloof Private Game Reserve, Bela Bela, Limpopo

August 2020

A man is killed by the lions he raised while walking the animals

Lion Tree Top Lodge, Hoedspruit, Limpopo

All incidents of attacks or injuries sustained within this timeline have been collated from news reports open to the public.

Lions cubs in transport

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