Lion shot after escaping enclosure, killing worker in North Carolina

Sunday, December 30, 2018
CASWELL COUNTY, N.C. -- Officials said a lion was shot and killed Sunday after escaping from its enclosure at the Conservators Center in Burlington and killing one worker.
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The victim of the attack has been identified as Alexandra Black, 22, of New Palestine, Indiana. Officials said she was a recent graduate of Indiana State University, was a college intern and had been employed at the Conservator Center for around two weeks.

A husbandry team led by an animal keeper was carrying out a routine cleaning when one of the lions left a locked space, officials said.

According to the Conservators Center, the lion entered the space the humans were in and quickly killed Black.


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The lion was shot and killed to allow Caswell County personnel to retrieve Black, officials said.

The Conservators Center is closed until further notice, as the investigation is ongoing.
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