Reporter gets mauled by lion

[rawad_m]

A JOURNALIST sent to a wildlife park to "play" with a one-year-old lion bit off more than he could chew - which is almost what the animal did with him.

British reporter Charles Starmer Smith was allowed into the cage of one-year-old lion Mapimpan, whose name means "little baby", and was subsequently mauled by the animal while its trainer tried to calm it down.

Starmer Smith, a journalist working for UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph, watched as Mapimpan locked its jaws around one of his legs before targeting his face.

The lion had to make do with the journalist’s shoulder after Starmer Smith threw his arms up to protect his head.

Video footage of the attack and it's aftermath shows the journalist's skin punctured in several places.

Starmer Smith had travelled to the South African park to present travel videos about the country, and he said he was warned of the risk of injuries if he went into the cage.

He said he was rubbing the lion’s belly when it decided to bite his leg.

“It rose on to its haunches, towering above me and I was spun into a waltz with a 300lb (136kg) predator - as I pushed desperately at its throat to keep away its jaws," Starmer Smith said.

"This did not feel like playing."

He said that the lion appeared to have calmed down - before rising for Round 2.

"(It) was on me again, its teeth bared as it lunged towards my neck. I raised my forearm to divert its jaws from my face, then felt razor-sharp teeth ripping into my shoulder.

"The next few seconds were a blur of claws, teeth and shouts as I stumbled around, helpless against the power of this animal."

He required stitches for his injuries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kSVBip24ag

[VIsqo]

Well, thats why u shouldnt mess with the king of the jungle!