Incident report 2010-2020
Tragic occurrences of injuries sustained through interactions with big cats in South Africa
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.
Two girls are attacked and bitten by a lioness on a ‘lion walk’
Weltevrede Lion Farm, Heilbron, Gauteng
A man is injured by a lioness in a Lion Park through the windows of a car
The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng
A keeper is killed by a lion at a farm owned by Johannesburg Zoo
Parys Zoo Farm Free State
The owner of a tiger is attacked and suffered puncture wounds and two broken ribs
Tiger Canyons, Philipollis, Free State
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
A woman is attacked by two lions and suffered severe puncture wounds
Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Limpopo
A man is attacked by a lion through the window of the car
The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng
A man is mauled to death by lions
East London Zoo, Eastern Cape
A man is attacked by two lions when feeding them
Bagamoya Wildlife Estate, Bloemfontein, Free State
A boy is attacked by a tiger cub and required staples to the back of his head, arm and fingers
Mbidi Lodge / Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary, Groblersdal, Mpumalanga
A man is attacked in a lion park through the windows of a vehicle
The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng
A woman is attacked and killed by a lioness at a lion park
The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng
A woman is bitten during a cheetah interaction
KwaCheetah, Kwazulu-Natal
A woman is injured during a cheetah interaction
KwaCheetah, Kwazulu-Natal
A young boy is bitten by a cheetah
KwaCheetah, Kwazulu-Natal
A woman is attacked by a lion and dies, and a tour guide is injured
The Lion Park, Lanseria, Gauteng
A girl is attacked by lions after entering their enclosure during an interaction
Kudu’s Rus, North West
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
A young boy dies after sustaining injuries from a lion attack after it escapes its enclosure
Otavi Game Lodge, Parys, Free State
A young boy is attacked by a lion and reportedly required immediate throat surgery
Letaba River Lodge Eco Park, Tzaneen
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
A 3 year old boy is attacked and dies from injuries following an attack by a cheetah
Tiger Canyons, Philipollis, Free State
A girl is attacked during a cheetah interaction
Emdoneni Safari Park/ Lodge & Cheetah Project, Hluhluwe
KwaZulu-Natal
A boy is attacked during a cheetah interaction
Emdoneni Safari Park / Lodge & Cheetah Project, Hluhluwe
KwaZulu-Natal
A boy dies after being attacked by a pet lion, his grandmother sustained severe injuries
Private property, Lephalale, Limpopo
A body is found mauled by captive lions
Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, Limpopo
A woman dies after being attacked during a ‘lion walk’
The Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve, Gauteng
A man is attacked by the lion he owns and sustains severe injuries
Marakele Predator Centre, Limpopo
A man is severely injured after being bitten by a lion
Tikwe River Lodge, Virginia, Free State
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
A man is mauled to death by his captive lions
Mahala View Lion Lodge, Gauteng
A woman working on a captive facility, is killed by lions
Zwartkloof Private Game Reserve, Bela Bela, Limpopo
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.
