Leon van Biljon was known as the ‘Lion Man’ until he was killed by his pets.
The 70-year-old bought and raised three cups, which treated like his ‘children’.
The man thought that his relationship with the lions meant that they had formed a bond, and named his two males Rambo and Nakita, and his lioness Katryn.
In fact, he was so close to them that he would sleep in their enclosure with them while they were cubs, but he made one fatal mistake years later that would prove that big cats will never be domesticated.
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It was at his Mahala View Lion Game Lodge in Hammanskraal, near Pretoria in South Africa that his life would come to an end.
In 2019, he had decided it was safe to venture into their enclosure to fix a fence and turned his back to his lions.
Seconds later, he would be trapped in the grip of sharp teeth and jaws.
According to reports, as he was turned away, one of the lions saw it as an opportunity to pounce on him, clamping its mouth around his neck.
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When emergency services arrived, there was little they could do in that moment as his body was motionless and covered in blood as his lions circled around his body.
The lions had to be shot so that medics could reach his body and try to treat his injuries.
But it was too late.
His wounds were far too great for emergency services to provide him with lifesaving measures.
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A source from the lodge told The Daily Star the details at the time.
They said: "Leon went in to fix the fence but knows the lions well and turned his back as he was fixing the fence and one came from behind and took his neck."
His family said he was ‘at peace’ and ‘left the Earth because of his children’, according to Pretoria News.
His daughter, Leonette van Wyk went on to share that she knew her father had lived life well and was doing his duty, given to him by God, by raising the animals and bringing awareness about their species.
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"We built that farm from nothing, grew up there. My dad raised the lions. He would sleep with them. He taught educational groups about lions and the relationship between God and these animals for school groups," she said.
Mahala View's website noted that the man hosted lion lectures, game drives and feedings for the guests, and he had also planned to retire before he was killed.
Even though the tragedy happened five years ago, a video describing his death resurfaced on YouTube and people gave their opinions on rearing lions in enclosures.
One wrote: "No matter how long you 'train' them, no matter how you try to tame them, all it takes is just one switch and the full flow of wild animals instincts will kick in and often to a fatal end."
Topics: Animals, World News
Britt Jones