Employee on Zoo Conservation Farm dies from a lioness attack

The Johannesburg Zoo has lost of one of its staff members, Johannes (Joe) Ramonetha, who died yesterday (13 February 2012) from injuries after a lionesses attacked him at the Zoo Conservation Farm in Parys. He passed on while on route to the hospital. Jo worked on the conservation farm in Parys since the early 2000’s but was in Zoo employment since 1970. He was appointed as a driver. He was later trained as an animal keeper and acted as driver and relieve keeper on the farm in Parys. He retired in 2011 but was offered a 6month contract and was thus a casual staff member at the time of the incident. He was dedicated and much loved. The Zoo staff mourns the loss of a Zoo family member and he will be missed.

The City Manager, Mr Trevor Fowler immediately dispatched assistance after learning about the incident. Staff from the Employment Assistance Programme, Health and Safety as well as Risk Assurance Services later travelled to the farm in Parys. Arrangements were made for employees to be counseled for shock. 
Chief Executive Dr Stephen van der Spuy who also travelled to Parys, has expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and the staff on the farm. Mr Ramonetha was an experienced employee who had worked for many years in the zoo environment. Management will give necessary assistance to the family of the Mr Ramonetha.

Executive Mayor Councilor Parks Tau has been fully informed of the incident and said he was much saddened by the loss of an employee. The Zoo management also received many calls from City politicians and officials such as Councilor Chris Vondo, MMC of Community Development, Pilli Tau, Executive Director of Community Development, Councilor Ros Greeff, MMC of Infrastructure and Flora Mokgohloa, Executive Director of Environment to offer assistance and condolences.

Dr Van der Spuy said a full investigation was launched jointly with the police yesterday. Initial indications are that this accident had apparently occurred after gates were left open – this was due to apparent human error.
Lions at the Parys farm are kept in secure enclosures with clear separation between staff and any visitors and the animals. There is also an electric fence in place. Employees are trained to keep all gates closed on entering the facility, then let the lions out into the outside camp area, secure the entrances to the night rooms and passage before any work starts.

After Mr Ramonetha’s attack, the lioness was detained in the night room facility and later sedated by Dr Brett Gardner who said the animal showed no undue aggression towards any other humans during the process.
The Zoo Management has said the health and safety of employees and visitors is always a priority. It was unusual for animals to attack employees while on their routine duty. Initial steps are already underway to review the risk profile of employees with a view of placing more measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. According to long serving staff, no loss of staff due to animal attacks has occurred in the last 50 years as the Zoo due to elaborative safety training measures in place.