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Video: Lion mauls wildlife park owner in South Africa

Marakele Predator Centre is situated 9 km out of the town of Thabazimbi in the Limpopo region in South Africa. 

Video: Lion mauls wildlife park owner in South Africa

New Delhi: In a terrifying incident, a wildlife park owner was mauled by a lion in South Africa after he entered the animal's enclosure. 67-year-old British expat Mike Hodge was rushed to hospital with injuries to the neck and jaw.

The video of the attack has been filmed at the Marakele Predator Park.  

Watch the video below (courtesy - facebook.com/kevin.wright):

Witnesses watched as the animal pursues the man towards the metal door to the pen. They screamed for help as Hodge is dragged back by the lion into the enclosure.

'Mike and one of his rangers were a little concerned about a smell in a compound that was upsetting one of the lions and had gone in through the gate to see what was causing it. He is no fool around lions and knows how to interact with them but clearly, something went wrong," Mail Online quoted a friend of Hodge telling The Sun.

As per the official website - marakeleanimalsanctuary.co.za, "After coming from the UK to South Africa in 1999, Mike and Chrissy Hodge started off with their lion project in 2003 out on a farm 30 km from Thabazimbi. After a couple of years, it was realised that being nearer town would provide Thabazimbi with a much-needed tourism attraction and so Marakele Animal Sanctuary was formed in December 2010. Marakele Predator Centre is situated 9 km out of the town of Thabazimbi in the Limpopo region of the bushveld."

It further says, "Guests have a choice of staying in 3 safari tents, and each night guests will be able to hear the lions roar, hyenas laugh, and jackals calling. The tents are furnished with double or single beds and each tent has an en-suite bathroom with a shower..."