A South African conservationist has been killed by his own domesticated lions. His family gave this information. 69-year-old West Mathewson was walking with two white lionesses on Wednesday. Suddenly one of the animals attacked and killed him without warning. The incident occurred on the premises of the family-owned Lion Tree Top Lodge in North Limpopo Province, South Africa.
He is known as “Uncle West”, had adopted and reared lions. They used to interact with them. 65-year-old Mathewson’s wife Gill was running after her husband when the lion attacked. A statement from the family’s lawyer Marina Botha emailed AFP that “she tried her best to save her husband, but was unable to do so.”
The lions have been temporarily moved to a place, while their final destination has not been decided. The family assured that they would be left in “the best environment available to them”. Mathewson and his wife had four sons and six grandchildren. “The family is shattered by the death of her husband, father and grandfather,” the statement said. They find comfort and peace with the fact that he died while living his dream, in nature and with his lions which was very good for his heart.
