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South Africa’s ‘Lion whisperer’ Kevin Richardson was taking big cat for a walk when it killed woman

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In this Wednesday March 15, 2017 file photo, Kevin Richardson, known as the “lion whisperer”, takes two of his lions for a walk in the Dinokeng Game Reserve, near Pretoria, South Africa. A lion, who mauled a young woman to death, was under the care of Richardson, known for his close interactions with the predators in his animal sanctuary. Photo: AP

A lion that mauled a young woman to death in South Africa was under the care of a man known as the “lion whisperer” for his close interactions with the predators.

Kevin Richardson, who keeps lions at his animal sanctuary in the Dinokeng Game Reserve, said on Facebook that he and an “experienced” colleague took three lions for a walk in the reserve on Tuesday and that one chased an impala, eventually encountering the 22-year-old woman at least two kilometres away.

Richardson said he followed procedure before the weekly excursion by assessing the area for other “big five” animals, a designation that includes rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard and lion, and sending out a “notification” that he was walking with lions.

I have to be very careful. They are large animals and are very good at telling you how they feel
Lion whisperer Kevin Richardson

“The young woman was not a guest at the camp, but had accompanied her friend to conduct an interview for an assignment with the camp’s manager,” he said. “Before leaving the reserve, the two visitors were taking photographs outside the camp where the attack occurred.”

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