Voluntary worker mauled to death by lion in African wildlife sanctuary

The Chipangali wildlife sanctuary in Zimbabwe is an orphanage for abandoned or injured African animals. Chipangali opened its doors in 1973, and it is now one of the largest and most successful wildlife sanctuaries in the whole of Africa.

But on 1 June 2010, the wildlife sanctuary was struck by tragedy. A large male lion escaped from his enclosure and attacked Robyn Lotz, a helpless South African voluntary worker. She was no match for the giant predator, and she sadly died of her injuries.

On Tuesday morning, safety measures slipped during a routine cage clean and an enclosure gate hadn't been properly secured. The male lion escaped from his enclosure and grabbed Robyn by the back of the head while she helped load bags of grass.

The lion had Robyn pinned to the ground, unable to wriggle free from his vice-like grip. Under the creature's awesome weight, the South African had no hope of escape.

Kevin Wilson, the wildlife sanctuary manager, heard the commotion and was alerted to the desperate situation. He grabbed a shotgun, but he was already too late.

After shooting and killing the lion, Kevin rushed Robyn to the nearest hospital in Bulawayo. She was conscious when they left, but not so when they arrived. At the hospital, doctors tried to revive her, but she died of her horrific injuries.

Robyn Lotz was an avid supporter of Chipangali's efforts to nurture and protect African wildlife.

Workers at the Chipangali wildlife sanctuary are naturally devastated by the event. Over the three decades that the wildlife sanctuary has been up and running, this is the first human fatality.

African wildlife sanctuaries do amazing work to ensure the survival of many African species. Lions are natural killers, so there will always be an element of risk when working in close proximity to them.

British people often volunteer to work in African wildlife sanctuaries. If you plan to volunteer, make sure you know the risks. Remember that your safety, and the safety of others, is of the utmost importance when working with wild animals.

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