Lion damages car

Press, 11 July 1989, Page 3

Lion damages car

By

BARRY CLARKE

People who drive through Orana Park’s lion reserve do so at their own risk, said the park’s administration officer, Mr Alan Stewart, yesterday. He was commenting on a complaint by a Christchurch couple, Mr Simon McKenzie and his wife, Wendy, whose car was attacked by a lioness on Sunday. The lioness bit a chunk out of a plastic spoiler on the Mitsubishi Sigma, but they will not be compensated for the damage. “We have public liability cover if someone is injured. Other than that people enter the reserve at their own risk,” said Mr Stewart. “I’m sending them a couple of passes. They had a couple of kids in the back of the car, so they probably didn’t see all of the park because of the incident.” Mrs McKenzie said at first she thought the lioness was being playful. “She was walking around looking in the window. Then she started licking the

bumper bar. I thought: ‘That’s pretty good.’ “Simon drove off and the lion ran on its back feet, hanging on to the car,”, she said. Their daughter, Sophie, aged seven, who was crying then told her parents the lioness had bitten a piece out of the spoiler. Mr McKenzie drove round looking for the piece, stopped, and the lioness attacked again. “We thought if we could find the bits, we’d pick them up and stick them back on. “Then all of a sudden it was there and had another go. Simon took off really fast,” said Mrs McKenzie. They had seen the sign at the reserve, saying “Enter at your own risk,” and had accepted Orana park would not compensate them. “We’re just a bit annoyed. You don’t realise how strong they (lions) are.”