Together they set up the Marakele Animal Sanctuary on a farm 30km from Thabaziambi, northern South Africa, the same year The centre developed from a personal lion project into a tourist attraction in 2010. Mike and Chrissy Hodge moved to South Africa from the UK 30 years ago and opened their lion project in 2003. They eventually opened the Marakele Animal Sanctuary in December 2010. Mike Hodge, a 72-year-old British expat, was rushed to hospital with injuries to the neck and jaw after being mauled by the lion, Shamba, in an incident that was caught on film in South Africa. Chickens are placed on a wire on the roof and when the truck is in the enclosure lions including Shamba jump up on top and can be photographed up close while feeding. Friends of Mike and Chrissy revealed that Emma had been making a fuss of him in hospital and wanted to get him back to their home on the lion sanctuary as soon as possible. Makarele Predator Park lion attack: Mike Hodge a British Safari Park owner survives being mauled by a lion as he entered a lion’s enclosure in South Africa. Heartbroken Linda Nolan reveals cancer has spread and she's terrified of dying, Only TWO places in England's top 50 Covid hotspots are in the North, Man stabbed to death and 2 others injured in knife attack outside Debenhams, Princess Beatrice 'caught flouting Covid rules' at posh London restaurant, Vinnie Jones pulls out of charity footie game over arch nemesis Tamer Hassan, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Mike and Chrissy founded it in 2003 before it expanded in 2010 to be a tourist attraction and it became the Marakele Animal Sanctuary. The lion, born in 2008, had been hand-reared since it … A wildlife park owner was savagely mauled by a lion in front of screaming onlookers after he entered the animal’s enclosure. Onlookers watched as the lion grabbed and dragged him backwards. Visitors to the sanctuary are able to watch the animals being fed and get up close and personal with the big cats in the "lion mobile". When Mike was attacked the truck was leaving the compound and a ranger can be seen luring Shamba away so that Mike can get out as usual and open the gate for it to exit. View our online Press Pack. https://people.com/pets/lion-attacks-park-owner-video-south-africa He was rushed to hospital with injuries to his neck and jaw. A BRITISH safari park owner was savaged by a huge male lion in front of horrified onlookers after entering its cage. Mike Hodge. Mike loves his lions and there is not a person in the world who treats them better” he said. For other inquiries, Contact Us. The lion was wandering around its enclosure at Makarele Predator Centre in South Africa before the attack. The Marakele Predator Centre provides a "lion mobile" to allow visitors to get up close and personal with the big cats. The family refused to comment on the attack and said they would not be giving any interviews but confirmed the park had reopened. British born Mike, 72, was attacked by Shamba the lion who he had raised since a cub and suffered such severe injuries that he had to be airlifted by air ambulance for life saving surgery. According to Daily Mail, Mike Hodge, the 72-year-old owner of Marakele Animal Sanctuary in … “Shots were fired to stop the attack but Shamba would not retreat a safe distance from Mike who was terribly injured and it was a life-saving decision made to shoot him. Previous visitors and volunteers said that Mr Hodge had long experience with lions, having hand-reared three from cubs. In the same month UK-born lion park owner Mike Hodge, 72, who owned the Marakele Predator Centre in Thabazimbi, north of Johannesburg was attacked by a lion in an enclosure. The owner of a South Africa safari park was attacked by one of his lion wards. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, Mike, 72, was attacked by Shamba the lion who he had raised since a cub, Daughter Emma helps hand-rear the lions at the Marakele Animal Sanctuary, The lion grabs Mike at the enclosure door while onlookers scream in horror, Mike Hodge, with his wife Chrissy, who helped nurse him back to health, Mike Hodge in hospital after the horrifying attack at his wildlife sanctuary, A caged jeep used to ferry tourist around the sanctuary, Visitors to the sanctuary have very close encounters with the local wildlife, Mike is said to be in hospital being treated for neck and jaw injuries, Moment man is attacked by lion and dragged by the neck into the bush, White lion cubs are cared for at the Marakele Animal Sanctuary in South Africa, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The horrifying footage shows Hodge being pounced on by the lion as he tried to leave through a gate, he was then dragged off towards some bushes. “The fact of the matter is he was not showboating in the enclosure but was checking out something that had upset the lion when it turned unexpectedly and charged him down. Mike and his wife relocated to South Africa in 2003 to create the Marakele Predator Centre. For other inquiries, Contact Us. His step-daughter Emma, 29, and wife Chrissy have nursed him back to health and he is now back at home but it will be many more weeks till he will be able to work with his lions. Mike and Chrissy from Wilmslow, Cheshire, moved with Emma to South Africa in 1999 and set up their lion project in 2003 which they opened up to the paying public in 2010. In the same month UK born lion park owner Mike Hodge, 72, who owned the Marakele Predator Centre in Thabazimbi, north of Johannesburg was attacked by a lion in an enclosure. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Britsh born Hodge, is recovering in hospital with injuries to his neck and jaw. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. THE British safari park owner who was savaged by one of his own lions is being nursed back to health by his step-daughter Emma. She said:"He is very upset about the loss of Shamba and is trying to put on a brave face but he is really battling to come to terms with what happened. The sanctuary is home to at least a dozen big cats, including white lions, cheetahs and two Bengal tigers. Michael Hodge is attacked by the lion S he added that the family were “devastated” over Shamba’s death. "His entire family are devastated by the loss of Shamba who was bred at the sanctuary and bottle fed by Mike and he was like family to them so this is a double tragedy" she said after the attack. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. However the park is currently closed following the attack on Mike. Here's what we know... Mike Hodge, 67, is a British man who relocated to South Africa with his wife Chrissy in 2003. Mike is heard screaming "help me" as it drags him like a rag doll across the ground and shouting "Shamba" at the lion but it does not stop then someone shouts “get a gun”. Together they set up the Marakele Animal Sanctuary on a farm 30km from Thabaziambi, northern South Africa, the same year. Mike Hodge and his wife Chrissy, who had reportedly nursed the lion who later launched the attack. Mike and his British family run the lion reserve together at Thabazimbi, South Africa, which grew from a sanctuary they initially built up to breed and keep lions in safe surroundings. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. (Twitter) (Supplied)Mike Hodge is seen running from the lion … Mike Hodge, 67, is a British man who relocated to South Africa with his wife Chrissy in 2003. The lion park charges adults £7 and children £4 entrance and for an extra £4 tourists can get into a specially made cage on the back of a truck for a close up encounter with lions. The centre also offers tourists the chance to camp out on site in one of the three Safari Tents. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Photo: supplied. THABAZIMBI, South Africa - The owner of a South African wildlife park is lucky to be alive after he was dragged and mauled by a lion after entering the animal's enclosure. The Brits started their own lion project in 2003 before opening the Marakele Animal Sanctuary in Thabaziambi in December, 2010. Mike Hodge was attacked by the big cat at the Makarele Predator Centre in Thabazimbi, South Africa, seconds after going into its enclosure. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Bernadette added that although Mike's injuries were "extensive" he would recover fully now that the biggest fear of infection has passed adding:”The prognosis is looking good for him”. Mike Hodge Marakele Animal Sanctuary Suddenly, Hodge frantically ran back to the vehicle, as Shamba chased after him. Mike Hodge, a 67-year-old British expat, was rushed to hospital with injuries to the neck and jaw following the shocking incident caught on film in … SAFARI park lion attack survivor Mike Hodge has reopened the Marakele Predator Centre where he was viciously mauled live on a tourist video and nearly killed three weeks ago. These heart-warming pictures of Emma taken in 2013 show how she shares the love of lions with her step-dad and has earned the trust and respect of both lions and tigers. Lion that savaged safari park owner Mike Hodge was SHOT DEAD after attacking Brit expat in enclosure. After coming from the UK to South Africa in 1999, Mike and Chrissy Hodge began with their Lion project in 2003 on a farm 30kms from Thabazimbi and the Marakele Animal Sanctuary was formed in December 2010. Mike Hodge was mauled by a male lion in its enclosure for at least 90 seconds Briton Mr Hodge is the owner of the Marakele Predator Park in South Africa Mr … The safari park boss notices Shamba as he walks away sniffing and worrying something on the ground so he takes a few steps after the lion has gone towards it to see what it was. Owner Mike has revealed he was "devastated" at the loss of Shamba, 10, who was shot dead by a park ranger in order to save his life and allow him to be rescued from the enclosure. ... Mike Hodge… He raised Shamba from a cub. He suffered severe bite and claw wounds to his neck and back and had a broken jaw. He suffered horrific injuries in an attack captured on video as he was dragged into the undergrowth to be devoured, and was only saved when a ranger shot the lion dead. He recovered in a Johannesburg hospital where family spokesperson Bernadette Maguire said he was far more traumatised at the loss of his favourite lion that the injuries it caused him. The 67-year-old victim, Mike Hodge, suffered severe injuries to his neck and his jaw after he was attacked in the Marakele Animal Sanctuary in Thabazimbi area, Limpopo province. It is believed that the lion has been put down for the savage attack. Maisie Smith pulled over by cops after being caught speeding to Strictly, Mount Etna erupts in Sicily spewing plumes of ash and lava into air, Heartbroken Linda Nolan reveals cancer has spread and she's terrified of dying, No Deal Brexit would leave the EU in shreds — not Britain, Only TWO places in England's top 50 Covid hotspots are in the North, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Mike Hodge, … Warning shots are heard to try and scare the lion away but when it refuses to leave Mike it is shot dead allowing rescuers to get in and get him to local hospital to be airlifted. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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