Dinokeng Game Enterprises in Pretoria North has confirmed that it has applied to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Environment (GDARDE) for a permit to euthanise the three lions that killed a man on Sunday.

Dinokeng management association chairman Hartogh Streicher also identified the landowner employee that was killed as Johannes Matshe.

The incident came to light when the reserve’s fencing team stumbled upon what appeared to be human remains around 10:35 the following day.

The operations manager responded promptly, confirming the unfortunate loss of life. The police were notified and acted swiftly, commencing an investigation.

Dangers after dark

Streicher said Matshe was tragically attacked and killed by lions while attempting to navigate the reserve on foot after dark.

He emphasised that walking within the reserve during the night, or at any time, is strictly forbidden per reserve regulations.

Michael Daymond, the chairperson of Dinokeng Game Enterprises – which owns the wildlife on the reserve – said that they are saddened by the tragic event. He expressed his condolences to the family.

Fatal fate?

He said the decision regarding the fate of the three lions took many factors into account, including the emotional tragedy suffered by the family, friends and landowners, the reserve’s environmental development and lion management plan, and several discussions with subject matter experts.

The biodiversity stewardship section of the GDARDE has confirmed that it has received the permit application and is urgently looking into it.

Streicher said in the interest of the safety of landowners, employees and visitors, the reserve implores all individuals to respect and adhere to its rules, which include no pedestrian traffic within the reserve. In addition, vehicles may be exited in designated areas only.

“This incident underscores the need for both visitors and landowners to exercise caution when interacting with the reserve’s wildlife. By respecting the rules and adopting responsible behaviour, we can ensure a safer environment for all,” said Streicher.

Not an uncommon occurrence

The tragic event on Sunday night is not the first fatal lion attack in the area.

On August 20, 2019, Leon ‘The Lion Man’ van Biljon was mauled to death by his lions – at the Mahala View Lion Game Lodge, 30km north of Cullinan, in the Dinokeng area. It was reported that three lions were subsequently shot.

Another attack took place at the Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary at the Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve in February 2018.

Pretoria Rekord reported that a 22-year-old woman visiting the sanctuary was killed by a lion. It was said that the lion attacked the young woman and her friend as they were walking to their car.

Details later emerged that Richardson and ‘an experienced colleague’ took three lions walking in the reserve. He is quoted as saying one of the lionesses charged off after an impala and ‘must have run almost 2.5km before she encountered and attacked the woman’.