FIVE THINGS ABOUT LION RESCUER

WHO IS THE ‘ LION WHISPERER?’ Kevin Richardson of South Africa is known as the “lion whisperer” for his close interactions with the predators. Richardson, who keeps lions at his sanctuary in the Dinokeng Game Reserve, campaigns against the country’s industry in which customers kill captive- bred lions in confined areas, and said many of the lions in his care were rescued from being transferred to such facilities.

WHY IS HE IN THE NEWS?

On Tuesday, Richardson said on Facebook that he and an “experienced” colleague took three lions for a walk in the reserve and that one chased an impala, eventually encountering a 22-year- old woman. The lion killed the woman.

WHY WAS SHE IN THE LION’S PATH?

The woman died at a camp run by Richardson near Johannesburg. “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. “The two visitors were taking photos outside the camp where the attack occurred.”

WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY?

Some conservationists say captive- bred lions lose their fear of people and should not be released into the wild. The management of the Dinokeng reserve said the woman was killed “within a conservation section that is not accessible to the general public.”

RICHARDSON’S VIEW?

“I have been accepted as part of the pride. But I have to be very careful. They are large animals and are very good at telling you how they feel.”