[Guardian] A South African conservationist has been killed by lions he hand-reared. West Mathewson, 69, was walking two white lionesses on Wednesday when one of the animals attacked and killed him without warning, his family said on Thursday.The incident took place on the premises of the family-owned Lion Tree Top Lodge, in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province.
Known as "Uncle West", Mathewson had raised the lions since they were cubs and was used to interacting with them.
Mathewson’s wife Gill, 65, was driving behind her husband when the lion attacked. "She tried her best to rescue her husband, but was unable to do so," family attorney Marina Botha said in a statement.