Man Thinks He’s Special Enough To Pet A Lion, Ends Up With A Severe Injury
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All of us are well aware that animals can be dangerous, especially the perfect hunters and predators like big wild cats. Though despite tigers, lions and jaguars are regarded as some of the world’s most dangerous animals, all the cuddly lion videos or frequent visits to the zoo might strip our guards down and make it seem as if all the big felines are nothing than just family-sized pet animals.
One of the people who experienced an unfortunate reminder of how perilous those exotic pets can be is Pieter Nortje, a 55-year-old artisan at SA Truck Bodies in Bloemfontein. He was visiting the Tikwe River Lodge in Virginia, South Africa with his wife Ilze where the pair were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.
A man was mauled by a lioness while trying to pet it in South Africa
As the two were given a guided tour of the lions at the game lodge, Pieter decided to get closer to the lions and pet them. As the 55-year-old stuck his arm through the fence to pet lions, one of the felines bit into his arm and started dragging.
The horrifying incident was captured on camera by Ilze. It shows Pieter playfully chatting with the animals, absolutely oblivious to the dangers of a lion’s attack. As he pets the male lion, Nortje can be heard saying, “If you bite me, then I’m going to bite you back,” as if he was foreshadowing what was about to happen. Though despite male lion responding well to the man’s touch, soon things turn south as the lioness approaches and instantly grabs hold of Pieter’s outstretched arm, hanging from a hole in the fence.
Image credits: Pieter Nortjé
The animal’s teeth reportedly sunk deep into the man’s arm, reaching bone as the lioness held him for a couple of seconds. As the wife screamed “It’s biting him, it’s biting him!” the man finally managed to get his arm out of the animal’s grasp. He was immediately transported to the Katleho Hospital in Virginia and later transferred to the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein. According to news24, Nortje is suffering from septic shock and is in serious condition. One should never forget that you cannot make a domestic animal out of a wild, ferocious hunter.
Watch the full video below (WARNING: Graphic content)
After watching the video, people had mixed opinions about the incident, with some expressing sympathy and other condemnation
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REALLY, what did you expect, WILD CAT, to crawl up into your lap and purr. MAN were you born yesterday?
To Mewton's Third Paw - I guess you missed the recent story about the woman who climbed into a jaguar's cage. Please refrain from posting, you fucking moron.
Did you see the video? The first one kinda did
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It's just another male trying to prove his dominance. It backfired. Honestly I wish the cat would have killed him. We need less idiot men in this world.
Hohh boy. They had better not hurt the lioness for the man's dumb actions, she's an animal and a predator, he should have known better. Of course I feel bad that he got bit, but people like that shouldn't be allowed near dangerous animals.
I absolutely agree.
Well put! It's a shame animals get blamed (and sometimes "put down", or to say it plainly: get killed!) because some people are just too dumb. That guy got what he deserved, may he think twice next time.
They need some sort of barriers to prevent humans actually getting within touching distance - preferably electrified. Would serve the idiots right
I believe that lionesses are generally the hunters in the pride, not the lions.
do we have a winner? download-5...aeddc6.jpg
Nope, he's still alive. Not for long though, if we can extrapolate his everydays' activities from this video.
REALLY, what did you expect, WILD CAT, to crawl up into your lap and purr. MAN were you born yesterday?
To Mewton's Third Paw - I guess you missed the recent story about the woman who climbed into a jaguar's cage. Please refrain from posting, you fucking moron.
Did you see the video? The first one kinda did
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
It's just another male trying to prove his dominance. It backfired. Honestly I wish the cat would have killed him. We need less idiot men in this world.
Hohh boy. They had better not hurt the lioness for the man's dumb actions, she's an animal and a predator, he should have known better. Of course I feel bad that he got bit, but people like that shouldn't be allowed near dangerous animals.
I absolutely agree.
Well put! It's a shame animals get blamed (and sometimes "put down", or to say it plainly: get killed!) because some people are just too dumb. That guy got what he deserved, may he think twice next time.
They need some sort of barriers to prevent humans actually getting within touching distance - preferably electrified. Would serve the idiots right
I believe that lionesses are generally the hunters in the pride, not the lions.
do we have a winner? download-5...aeddc6.jpg
Nope, he's still alive. Not for long though, if we can extrapolate his everydays' activities from this video.