Zimbabwe: Australian Diplomat Mauled By Lions

New Zimbabwe (London)

April 30, 2007
Posted to the web April 30, 2007

A YOUNG Australian diplomat was mauled by lions at a wildlife park in Zimbabwe but survived because her boyfriend scared the animals away.

Gemma Huggins, 27, was visiting the Lion and Cheetah Park outside Harare when a lion grabbed her by the head and shook her, reports said.

The diplomat, who had arrived in Zimbabwe on her first foreign posting a month earlier, was lucky to survive after the lion's teeth came within millimetres of her jugular vein, the Australian Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

The paper said she was attacked by more than one animal.

Huggins was treated for severe injuries to her head, neck, torso and legs and had several skin grafts at Unitas Hospital in Pretoria.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that a diplomat from its embassy in Harare had been hospitalised after an unspecified incident at a wildlife park.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he would not discuss the details of the case.

"I gather she is all right, and I'm obviously relieved that she's all right, but she has asked for us not to publicise her case and talk about the situation, so I'll respect her wishes," Downer said.

Huggins, who was recovering at home in Canberra after weeks of extensive treatment in South Africa, was still too traumatised to speak about the March 4 incident.

On visits to the Lion and Cheetah Park, tourists are allowed to touch the lions.

One recent visitor to Zimbabwe, writing on her website, said: "Going down to the Lion and Cheetah park, close to Lake Chivero, we were entertained by lions, monkeys, civet cats and a giant turtle.

"I was allowed to enter the lion's den on foot and petted a real, life-size, lion. However, when it started waiving its paws at me, possibly to play, I made sure he wouldn't hit me with them. No such issues with the cubs with which we also got to play. Lots of fun and they really are like big cats."

Zimbabwe: Stray Buffalo Kills 3

Published by the government of Zimbabwe


The Herald (Harare)
7 May 2007
Bindura Bureau

A STRAY buffalo last week attacked and killed three people in two separate incidents in Mushumbi.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Michael Munyikwa confirmed the incident, saying the first two victims were Mr Adam Wesile (33) and his wife Ms Felistas Petro.

Insp Munyikwa said the two were picking cotton in their field when they saw the buffalo feeding on cotton in the same field.

When they saw it, the couple believed it was a cow resulting in the woman advancing towards it, intending to drive the beast away.

It was, however, too late for the woman to run away when she realised it was a buffalo.

She was attacked and killed on the spot before the buffalo charged towards her husband, who had rushed to rescue her.

Mr Wesile was rushed to Musomo clinic before he was referred to Guruve Hospital, where he died the same day.

After attacking the couple, the buffalo also attacked another man only identified as Chimanga (25) on the same day.

Chimanga had gone out to fetch some firewood when he came across the buffalo, which attacked and killed him on the spot.

Chimanga's relatives discovered the body two days later. The relatives had been looking for him after he had failed to return home.

Insp Munyikwa warned members of the public staying in the area to be careful because the same animal, which was yet to be captured, might also attack them.

He said authorities from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority were on the ground hunting the animal.

The report comes barely three weeks after a pride of lions devoured more than 22 beasts including 10 goats and five sheep in Guruve.

The lions are yet to be captured but were last seen near Warden Safaris in Mavuradonha.