Buffalo City Metro spokesperson, Thandy Matebese told eNCA.com the victim who was killed by the lion after the mauling, had deliberately jumped into the enclosure.
Matebele said, “This person deliberately went in to the enclosure.”
Officials at the East London Zoo have moved to assure visitors of its safety after a man was mauled by a lion on Tuesday.
Asked about general security measures, he told eNCA.com that the zoo had been revamped two years ago with a new gate and proper access control; but stressed that it was not easy for security to be manning each enclosure.
“We try to maintain a friendly and secure environment, for this reason security are on patrol and not at each feature,”
Matebese said they still didn’t know what had led to the man jumping to his death the way he did.
Police had found a lot of blood close to the fence and security wall.
From the security footage, police determined that the man had used the wall for support and climbed over the netted fence into the enclosure.
The incident was spotted by feeding staff around 10am.
“It was not a gruesome scene, a full body was found with all the parts attached. There were scratches to the body but it wasn’t ripped apart. The lions went for the neck as they do with their prey,” said Matebele.
Matebese said it would be easy to identify the man, who still had his phone and wallet on him when he was found.
He’s described the incident as “unfortunate”, saying a visiting school group from Kings College Primary, had to be turned away when the body was discovered.
Metebele said; “They had to be turned away as the removal of the body had to take place.”
Matebese said the zoo had offered counselling but that no one had taken them up on that offer.
Source: eNCA