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Two lions attacked a German zoo keeper on Saturday in a wildlife park near the city of Hamburg, leaving him in serious condition, without putting their lives at risk, the police said.
The zoo keeper of the Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, Lower Saxony, entered the lion's enclosure after the meat was left outside, according to a police spokesman in Walsrode.
One of the 24-year-old's colleagues noticed the attack and was able to repel the lions and put him in the shelter.
The incident occurred at 9:55 am (07:55 UTC), five minutes before the opening of the wildlife park and amusement park.
Lions Lounge at Serengeti Park in Hodengahen
It is still unclear why the guardian went into the compound, said a spokeswoman for Serengeti Park.
According to the police, he was taken to the hospital by an emergency helicopter. He was conscious and able to speak.
More than 1500 animals live in the park.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
Big friendly cats
They are the top of the food chain and the kings and queens of all the plains that they roam. The lions of Africa are also perhaps the most sociable of big cats, they remain united in their pride. A lasting symbol of strength and majesty, it may be difficult for some to believe that these animals are under threat.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
Disappear from the earth
Lions were once found in the wild on the African continent, from Algeria to Lesotho. According to the WWF, they are only present in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest populations in Tanzania. But their numbers are also threatened: they have disappeared from 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa in recent decades.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
And if the lions disappear?
The lion population has dropped 43% in 21 years, according to 2016 figures. They are now clbadified as vulnerable. Some 20,000 are left in the wild. Animals play an important role as predators at the top and their disappearance is a loss to the grbadlands and woods they roam. Lions help maintain a balance between other animals, especially herbivores, such as wildebeest.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
Forced out
The population of Africa is 1.2 billion and is growing. This puts pressure on the habitats and animals that live there. According to WWF, the continent's lions have been reduced to living on 8% of the land they occupied previously. Some populations have been isolated by a growing road network and expanding farms and cities. This affects their ability to reproduce and reduce access to prey.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
Conflict with humans
As people expand into new territories, they are more likely to come into contact with big cats. And of course, most are afraid of dreaded animals. Farmers struggling to get out sometimes fire on lions attacking their livestock. Livestock can also transmit deadly diseases to lions. Conservation groups are trying to convince people living near felines to help protect them.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
Victims of poaching
Even a predator at the top like the lion is helpless against poachers armed with traps, poison and rifles. Cats are often caught in traps designed for other animals, such as zebras, sold as bushmeat. In some cases, lions are poached for their mustaches, bones and tails, used in traditional medicines and rituals.
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Lions: a top predator threatened
Hope for the future?
Lion populations have increased in countries such as South Africa and Zimbabwe, where they are well protected and where intensive conservation efforts have been going on for years. But it will take a pan-African effort and a lot of political will to bring the cats back from the brink, ecologists say.
Author: Jennifer Collins
law / jm (AFP, AP, dpa)
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