Lions were 'only playing' with mauled zookeeper

Zoo staff say two lions who mauled a Wellington zookeeper were probably only "playing" because they had him for up to 20 minutes but did not kill him.

Bob Bennett, 54, was cleaning the animals' enclosure just before 2pm, when the two-year-old African lions -- Malik and Zulu -- passed through an open gate and attacked him.

Zoo staff responded to his cries for help and were able to drive the lions off. Mr Bennett, a 19-year veteran at the zoo, is now recovering in Wellington Hospital with superficial lacerations and a neck injury.

But Wellington Zoo general manager operations Mauritz Basson today said Mr Bennett's 15-20 minute ordeal with the lions should not be characterised as an attack.

"The lions did not attack Bob," Mr Basson said.

"They were more interested in the buckets he had in his hand and unfortunately he tripped over a bush and fell and that's when the lions decided 'oh, this is a handy toy'."

There was nothing that indicated the lions, which each weigh about 130kg, were attacking.

"'If they really wanted to attack, they would have killed Bob in a matter of seconds. They don't waste time and we are very, very flimsy creatures compared to a lion.

"They were purely playing with him."

Mr Basson said the lions were used to instructions from their trainer who had "saved the day" by firing water from a garden hose at the lions while other staff aided Mr Bennett.

The lions appeared unaffected by the incident.

"They don't know what all the fuss is about. They had a few extra toys in the enclosure."

Mr Basson said the water and shouting would have resulted in a loss of "goodwill" with the lions, which would have to be built up again.

There was never any question of the lions being destroyed, other than if they had to be shot if they could not have been driven away from Mr Bennett.

Mr Basson said the zoo would be talking to Mr Bennett to find out exactly what had happened as the lions should never have been able to reach him.

Zoo marketing and communications manager Beth Houston this morning said staff had been in to see Mr Bennett at the hospital.

"He's actually fine. He may need to have a small operation this morning because he has some skin grafts that need to be taken care of," Ms Houston said.

"We're all delighted -- he's the luckiest man alive we think."

She said although it was early days, Mr Bennett was expected to return to his work with the zoo's African animal team.

"I don't see any reason why not."

Mr Bennett yesterday said he was lucky not to have been more badly hurt.

"I feel absolutely brilliant, a bit sore but as well as can be expected under the circumstances," Mr Bennett told National Radio.

- NZPA