Shamba Lion Who Attacked Man in South African Park Shot Dead! Recovering British Safari Owner Mourns Killing of Wild Animal He Bottle-fed as Cub

A couple of days ago a video of a lion named Shamba attacking a senior man went viral on the social media. The incident took place at Marakele Animal Sanctuary in South Africa’s Thabazimbi showed a full-grown lion mauled a Briton senior citizen named Michael Hodge after getting too close inside the lion’s enclosure. While the shocking video with graphic imagery ended with the lion letting go of the man after a loud gunshot was fired. The reports informed about Hodge to be recovering in a hospital. However, no word was out on what happened to the attacking lion. Well, viewers’ worst fears came true as the Hodge family announced Shamba was killed in order to free the Briton safari owner from the lion’s clutches! Yes, and just like that a lion, the king of jungle lost his life for behaving…like a LION.

When the viral footage of Michael Hodge entering the lion’s enclosure and eventually grabbed like a chicken by Shamba circulated on the internet, it started a string of questions. The most curious one being, what was the need of the man to go inside the enclosure? But Hodge’s friend clarified saying that Hodge was a ‘little concerned about a smell in a compound that was upsetting one of the lions’ and that 'he is no fool around lions and knows how to interact with them but clearly something went wrong'. So, what exactly go wrong? Well, a lot.

While social media is condemning the killing of Shamba, the tragedy is personal for the Hodge family patriarch. Michael, 72, who set up the 120-acre Marakele Predator Center in 2010 had raised Shamba as a lion cub exactly ten years in 2008. The family spokesperson claimed on the day of tragic incidence, “Shamba mysteriously turned around on Saturday.” While recuperating from a broken jaw and severe bruises on his neck, Michael is devastated at the loss of the animal he raised as a child.

Michael Hodge’s wildlife sanctuary which took pride in not compromising on their wild animals’ natural behaviour met with an ironic situation. A message on their website reads: “Come and take a ride on the wild side in our purpose-built Lion Mobile,” the sanctuary’s website reads. “I can promise you that Shamba will jump up and look you in the eye.” Unlike many of the other South African sanctuaries infamous for harbouring killing of lions, in a drugged condition, Hodge’s Marakele Animal Sanctuary was different. Unfortunately, it too became a ground where a lion was killed for being a lion! In the wake of this incidence, Marakele Predator Park is closed with the Hodge family receiving death threats from angry protesters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2018 11:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).