Aroma Pets

South African conservationist West Mathewson mauled to death by his own white lions in front of his wife

A conservationist has died after he was mauled by two of his own lions as he took them for a morning walk.

West Mathewson, 69, ran the popular Lion Treetop safari lodge in Limpopo province, South Africa, along with his wife.

She reportedly witnessed the sudden attack, which took place at around 8.30am local time on Wednesday.

Local police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo told reporters: “It is believed that the two lionesses attacked the deceased during one of their usual walks.

“The incident allegedly took place while his wife was helplessly watching.”

A well-known South African conservationist has died after he was mauled by two white lions as he was taking them for a walk.

The wife of West Mathewson, who followed in a car, tried to distract the lions but it was too late.

He ran a popular safari lodge, Lion Tree Top Lodge. 

A conservationist has died after he was mauled by two of his own lions as he took them for a morning walk.

West Mathewson, 69, ran the popular Lion Treetop safari lodge in Limpopo province, South Africa, along with his wife.

She reportedly witnessed the sudden attack, which took place at around 8.30am local time on Wednesday.

Local police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo told reporters: “It is believed that the two lionesses attacked the deceased during one of their usual walks.

“The incident allegedly took place while his wife was helplessly watching.”

A well-known South African conservationist has died after he was mauled by two white lions as he was taking them for a walk.

The wife of West Mathewson, who followed in a car, tried to distract the lions but it was too late.

He ran a popular safari lodge, Lion Tree Top Lodge. 

— Muthuri Kinyamu (@MuthuriKinyamu)
August 27, 2020
Emergency services rushed to save Mr Mathewson but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The lionesses have since been moved to another game lodge and are expected to be released into the wild later, South African news site News24 reported.

Relatives of Mr Mathewson, known affectionately as “Uncle West”, said the attack could have been the result of very rough play, according to the BBC.

“I think it was just a tragic accident that happened," his daughter-in-law Tehri Mathewson told News24.

“The lions are safe and will forever be loved and cared for as he would have wanted.”

Mr Mathewson rescued the lions from "canned hunting" – where animals are bred to be hunted – and they were kept in an enclosure at his lodge, the BBC reported.

His daughter-in-law described him as a “remarkable man” whose death would be a great loss to conservation.

The lionesses reportedly attacked a man collecting wood on a neighbouring property after they broke out of the enclosure in 2017.

The man suffered multiple wounds and died a week later, although the local health department attributed his cause of death to "other diseases".

Reference: Evening Standard: Harriet Brewis 11 hrs ago: 27th August 2020