Man mauled to death by lions he kept in enclosure, before animals shot dead

A 70-year-old man has been mauled to death by three of the lions he held in captivity.

Leon van Biljon, also known as ‘the Lion Man’, owned the Mahala View Lion Game Lodge near Cullinan in South Africa.

“There are three lions in the lion camp at Mahala View Lion Lodge,” the reserve’s website reads.

“Rambo, Nakita and Katryn will capture the imagination of anyone visiting.”

Mr van Biljon’s property is 20 miles outside Pretoria, South Africa’s capital.

The 70-year-old was fixing a broken fence at his enclosure when the attack occurred.

Three lions were shot dead, partly so that people could reach Mr van Biljon, according to South African broadcaster enca.

“[Emergency services] received a call of a lion attack at Dinokeng,” a Best Care ambulance service spokesperson said.

“We received information that the male [patient] was unresponsive and that a few lions were shot.

“We were also informed that the patient was not safe to approach as there was still a third lion in close

“When we arrived on the scene the patient was unresponsive and was declared dead after succumbing to his injuries.

“The decision to shoot the lions was made by people on the premises in order to get to the deceased.”

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Mr van Biljon had reportedly raised the lions from when they were cubs, according to News 24.

He offered lion lectures, feedings and game drives for visitors, according to the Mahala View Lodge website

“Great loss for everyone,” the Mahala View Game Lodge said on Facebook.

“RIP Uncle Leon.”