South African killed in zoo by lion

PARYS, South Africa, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A South African man, called out of retirement to resume working for the Johannesburg Zoo, was killed by a lioness, police said.

Joe Ramanata, 65, was feeding animals at the Parys Zoo Farm, 90 minutes from Johannesburg, where animals uncomfortable with confined spaces are kept, when he was mauled by a lioness who had escaped her enclosure, the Pretoria News said.

He "was cleaning the area where the animals live and was feeding them when he was attacked," said police spokesman Malesela Langa.

Zoo spokeswoman Louise Gordon pointed out Ramanata had extensive experience in dealing with the animals, and that human error, leaving an enclosure unlocked, contributed to the incident. She said the lions are in a safe area, and the lioness did not escape the zoo.

Police have opened an inquest into the death, the newspaper said.