Lion that attacked and killed worker is euthanized, report says

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Authorities are investigating a lion attack at a wild cat sanctuary in Fresno County where one worker is believed to have been killed.

Corin Hoggard, a Fresno television station reporter with ABC 30, is reporting on Twitter that a male lion named Cous Cous has been euthanized after the fatal attack on one of his handlers at Project Survival’s Cat Haven in Dunlap.

The station reported that a male worker was killed while inside the lion’s cage.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Department and California Department of Fish and Wildlife are responding to the animal park, which was founded in 1993 and sits on 100 acres about 15 miles west of King’s Canyon National Park and 40 miles east of Fresno. It describes itself as an “innovative park dedicated to the preservation of wild cats.”

The Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire confirmed with The Times that they had responded to the lion attack. Dan Lynch, director of Fresno County’s Emergency Medical Services, confirmed the attack was fatal. He did not have details on the victim or circumstances of the attack.

According to Cat Haven’s answering machine, the park is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays for its “winter hours.” Calls and messages were not immediately returned.

‘Project Survival’s Cat Haven promotes the conservation and preservation of wild cats in their native habitat by educating visitors and publicizing the work done by Project Survival Cat Conservation Group,’ its website states. The website shows photos of numerous wild cats, including bobcats, cheetahs, leopards and lions.

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