Lion chomps an arm off

[blade]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/05/12/lion.a ... index.html

<i>TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- A male lion bit the arm of a 21-year-old zookeeper Sunday at Busch Gardens, severing it at the elbow, park officials said.

The woman was escorting her family on a behind-the-scenes tour of the theme park, officials said.

The 12-year-old, 350-pound lion named Max attacked the woman through a bar-style fence and was never out of his secure area, said Capt. Bill Wade of the Tampa Fire Rescue.

The woman, whose name wasn't released, was flown with the severed limb to Tampa General Hospital by helicopter.

She is listed in serious condition, a hospital spokesman said. It was unclear if an attempt would be made to reattach the arm.

Zoo officials said they had not decided what to do with the lion. </i>






Reminds me of the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness". Based on a true story where 2 lions kill hundreds of bridge builders. They killed just because they liked it.

[glassoftea]

I'm not lying, that had to hurt.

glassoftea

[TheSovereign]

trajic but then again i bet u stupidity had something to do with it

[FlyingPenguin]

Carelessness or stupidity. Animal was in a cage according to the article. Also she was giving her own family a behind the scenes tour.

Probably something along the lines of:

"Look, he's a pussy cat - I can stick my arm between the bars and pet him..... OWWW!"

[EvilHorace]

That'd be my guess too, like "see, he's totally tame and harmless"

[Hipnotic_Tranz]

People forget that these were once wild animals now stuck in a cage. Who in their right mind would stick their arm into the lions den, that is just stupid . I personally don't think that any wild animal, espeecially ones that have the natural gut instinct to kill, could ever be truely "tamed"

[Gand1]

It was reported on CNN today that she was feeding before and just had her finger around a bar. Because the meat smell was still on her hand the lion went after it. CHOMP! Lookee mom one hand! I'm glad to see that Bush Gardens is not going to do anything to the lion. After all it was only his instinct.

[blueyedangel404]

The Ghost and the Darkness.........that is a great movie......made me sick just watchihng it but to actually think that the movie was based on a true story is sick. I know it was but that just shows that man isn't always at the top of the food chane and we're not always in control.

[glassoftea]

Blueye,

You are right, The Ghost (in or and) the darkness was a pretty good movie but it was crap compared to the books that it was based off. I don't remember the guys name but the movie is based on the adventures of one of the greatest of the great white hunters. He wrote four or five books, I don't have any of them anymore (wish I did cause they are the kind you read again and again). Anyone remember the guys name or the books?

Glass

[glassoftea]

Well,

That didn't take long, a little reverse search and I pulled it up. The author was Peter Capstick and the book in which he talks about the lion that is fictionally discussed in GATD is "Death In Silent Places". Here is a link to all of his works:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/searc ... 44-1740900

Some of his books are repetitive but all are petty good and they really give you a respect for that land, it's much more dangerous than I ever gave it credit for before reading his books.

Glass

[blueyedangel404]

Glass,



I've never even heard of the book but did like the movie.

The book sounds like a good book I am going to have to get it.

I feel bad for the ppl that went through all of that but to actually know what it feels like to know you can and will be hunted by an animal with so much strength and power must be horrifying.

know they know what it feels like to actually be the prey instead of the predator.

just thinking about it makes me sick..........