Lioness kills zoo keeper at South African farm

A zoo keeper was killed when a lioness pounced on him after security gates at Johannesburg Zoo's conservation farm were apparently left open.

Colleagues heard Joe Ramonetha, 63, screaming on Monday and rushed to help but it was too late, a spokeswoman said. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Mr Ramonetha, who had four children, had worked at the zoo since 1970. He had either been feeding the 11-year-old lioness or cleaning out her enclosure at the farm in Parys, about 75 miles from Johannesburg, when the accident happened.