Alabama: Girl, 9, gets too close to kangaroo inside fence at safari park and is grabbed and bitten

ALABAMA -- A mother's phone captured the shocking moment a kangaroo grabbed her nine-year-old daughter by the hair and then bit her on her head and ear.

Jennifer White was recording her family's visit to the Harmony Park Safari in Madison County, Alabama, - one of the family's favorite places - when the animal suddenly reached through its enclosure and attacked her daughter Cheyenne.

The little girl was rushed to the hospital and had to receive 14 stitches in her head.

Speaking about the ordeal her daughter faced, White told WAFF: 'You blame yourself sometimes, like, you know, "why did I take her to the park that day?”, “Why did I take her to see the kangaroo?’”

Cheyenne's initial encounter with the kangaroo was harmless. She was playing with him, mimicking his actions as he did her's. The footage showed that her three-year-old sister had even reached out her hand to the animal.

Suddenly the park animal poked its clawed fingers through the park's fence - which was punctured with large holes - and bit her while she was bent over.

'I thought it was playing,' Cheyenne told WAFF. 'I’m just glad that it got me instead of my baby sister, because it would have hurt her even worse.'

Alabama law states that agri-tourism businesses like this park cannot be held responsible for visitors' injuries.

'You are assuming the risk of participating in this agri-tourism activity,' the law reads.

'An agri-tourism professional is not liable for injury, sickness, or damage to, or the death of, a participant in an agri-tourism activity at this location if the injury, sickness, damage, or death results from the inherent risks of the agri-tourism activity.

'Inherent risks of an agri-tourism activity include...the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury.'

The details from this law as well as plaques reading 'I bite' are posted on a sign at the entrance of the park and on the animal's fence, respectively, but White says this is not enough to keep visitors from danger.

She says the park owners can minimize risk by replacing their fences with more protective barriers.

“It’s real thin, it’s right here. You can clearly see it or pet it or it could touch you, which makes you feel more, like, safe,' she told WAFF.

'And I think children not being able to access the animal by reach or the animal to the children would help a whole lot.

'I don’t want it to happen to someone else’s kid, because they may not be as fortunate as my daughter was.'

The park owners have declined to comment about the attack.

I have been to several of these parks and there is always a danger of something happening. I saw a man scratching the neck of a camel once and suddenly the camel swung its neck and that big mouth opened and he tried to bite the man. Another guy was spit in the face by a llama. Sometimes the animals would be too grabby with the food; I can see all sorts of injuries occurring. That's why it says they're not responsible for anything on the tickets. 

I feel sorry for this little girl, but it was an accident.

(Daily Mail - May 8, 2017)

American woman, 22, dragged to her death by a lion and 'local tour guide' seriously hurt after leaving their car window open during South African safari

SOUTH AFRICA -- A 22-year-old American woman has been mauled to death and another person seriously injured after being pulled through their car window by a lion in a safari park in South Africa.

The tourist and her companion, thought to be a South African tour guide, were taking a 'routine' drive through the 20-acre compound containing about a dozen big cats near Johannesburg.

Gauteng Lion Park employee Scott Simpson, 28, told Daily Mail Online: 'The lion approached from the left of the vehicle, the passenger side and walked quite close to the car.

A police van arrives at the Lion Park where an American tourist was
killed by a lioness on June 1 near Johannesburg, South Africa

'The witnesses said they saw the guests taking pictures of the lion from a meter away, then the lion lunged at the car and bit the lady through the window.' 

Mr Simpson said park staff rushed to pull the lioness off the young woman and carried out CPR.  Paramedics were called but could do nothing to save her.

'When the paramedics were treating the lady she unfortunately passed away,' he said.

He has been working for less than a year at the Park, which is an hour from Johannesburg.


A 22-year-old American woman died after being dragged out of her
SUV (pictured) while on safari on Monday in Gauteng Lion
 Park near Johannesburg, South Africa

It's the third big cat attack at the park in just four months. 

Police confirmed that the tourist was 22 years old and an American citizen. The U.S. Embassy confirmed the incident has been reported to them, reported CBS News.

The lioness responsible for the attack has been identified and is being kept alone in a separate enclosure. There were no plans to destroy the animal.

In March, an Australian tourist was injured by a lioness after going on safari with his car windows open.

Brendan Smith, from Perth, was left with deep flesh wounds after the big cat pounced through the window and bit his leg.

 

Smith posted pictures of his injuries on Facebook which happened after he'd only been in South Africa for 36 hours.

Two days later, a 13-year-old from a nearby slum was attacked by a cheetah while riding a bicycle through the grounds.

In December 2013, a former South African franchise rugby player Brett Tucker and his family were attacked by a lion at the same park. Tucker's father reportedly suffered minor injuries.

The park has more than 85 lions, including rare white lions, and a variety of other animals, including giraffes and ostriches.

According to its website, Lion Park guarantees 'super close-up animal views' but it does order visitors to keep their car windows shut.

The park has previously come under fire for allowing visitors to pet lion cubs. It was also accused of breeding lions for 'canned hunting', a charge that the park has refuted.

The park offers tented accommodation and also hosts children's birthday parties.

A visitor to the Lion Park last year uploaded a video to YouTube of a lion opening a car door.

Employee Mr Simpson said visitors to the park were warned not to leave their windows open to avoid attacks.

He told ENCA: 'We make it so clear. We put signage up everywhere that people must keep their windows closed.  We hand them a slip of paper when they enter the park, I really don't understand why people think its okay to leave windows open.

He added that the park takes safety seriously.

Brendan Smith, from Perth in Australia (pictured with
 an unidentified friend) had only been in South Africa for
36 hours when he was bitten by a lioness after
leaving his window open on a safari

 

 

'We have signage up everywhere informing people to keep their windows closed. We hand out flyers as they are driving in reminding them to keep their windows closed. We really do everything we can to make sure that people know that,' he added.

The park boasts 'guaranteed super-close up views' of the animals on its website.

It's been visited by celebrities including R'n'B singer John Legend and pop star Shakira in the past.
Lion attacks have been known to happen in the past. 

In 2011, Ranesh Rajkaran, 28, blocked a lioness from getting into his car with his arm and was bitten but fortunately he only suffered scratches.

He and his wife, Somashnie, who was pregnant, had been celebrating their second wedding anniversary at the park and had food inside the car.

Rajkaran said he opened the windows a little due to the sweltering heat but didn't expect a lioness to shove her paw through the gap.

'I think she must have smelled the food in the car or maybe she just wanted to play,' he said.
In December 2013, former league rugby player Brett Tucker and his family were attacked by a lion at Gauteng Lion Park.

Tucker had his daughter on his lap at the time when a lion put its paw through the window but her grandfather acted quickly and threw her in the backseat.

Tucker's father suffered minor injuries to the shoulder after he tried to roll his window up, but accidentally rolled it further down.

(Daily Mail - June 1, 2015)

'A lion jumped through the window and went to town on my legs': Tourist attacked by big cat on safari - and posts pictures of his horrific injuries on Facebook

AFRICA -- An Australian tourist was lucky to escape with his life after he was mauled by a lion during an African safari tour.

Brendan Smith, from Perth in Western Australia, had landed in Johannesburg in South Africa just 36 hours before the vicious predator jumped through an open car window and attacked him.

In a Facebook post, Mr Smith recalled the terrifying moment he was bitten, with a sense of humour.

'No later than 36 hours after touching down in Africa I find myself in hospital after a lion jumped through the car window and decided to go to town on my legs,' he wrote.

 

 'Pretty full-on but am alive, with insurance coming to the party and an influx of curious Africans wanting to see "the lion man". Could have and should have been a lot worse but chicks dig scars so I'll be sweet!'

It is believed the Perth man was on safari near Johannesburg and was treated at the city's Fourways Life Hospital. 

Mr Smith's wounds appear to be deep in graphic photos uploaded on his Facebook page.

His post also included a picture of two female lions lazing on the grass. It is not known if these were the lions that attacked him.

One of the pictures show what looks like teeth puncture marks which have broken through Mr Smith's skin.

Looking at his page, Mr Smith appears to be an avid adventurer and traveller. His photos show him skydiving, eating scorpions, jumping through fire hoops and shooting at a gun range.

His dad, Brian Smith, said he was relieved to hear his son was safe.

'So glad it's not worse. Very lucky lad. You will be in pain for weeks,' Brian wrote on social media.
'I think u should cut your losses and get on the next plane home after hospital. Take care.'

Friends also expressed their concern for the injured Australian by leaving messages of sympathy under his post.

'You are one lucky son of a b**** - sort of :-S hope you're on the mend dude and can enjoy the rest of your trip,' one friend wrote.

 

  

Another well-wisher expressed their shock at the news.

'Oh my god! You have survived some pretty crazy travel adventures, but this takes the cake,' she said.
'Imagine this story at the pub in 40 years time. Sending you loads of love & well wishes xx.'

Mr Smith was planning to continue on to a shark dive in Gansbaai - south of Cape Town - from his safari, but now he is unsure if his plans will still go ahead as he is in hospital.

(Daily Mail - March 28, 2015)