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| US zoo intern fatally attacked by lion in North Carolina | US zoo intern fatally attacked by lion in North Carolina |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 22-year-old zoo worker was killed in North Carolina on Sunday after being attacked by a lion at a wildlife park. | A 22-year-old zoo worker was killed in North Carolina on Sunday after being attacked by a lion at a wildlife park. |
| Conservators Center, in Caswell County, said the attack happened when a lion escaped an enclosure during a routine cleaning. | Conservators Center, in Caswell County, said the attack happened when a lion escaped an enclosure during a routine cleaning. |
| Alexandra Black, an intern who had worked there for less than two weeks, has been named as the victim. | Alexandra Black, an intern who had worked there for less than two weeks, has been named as the victim. |
| Her family have said she "loved animals" and had died following her passion. | Her family have said she "loved animals" and had died following her passion. |
| "This was her fourth internship, because she really wanted to make a career of working with animals," her family said in a statement. | "This was her fourth internship, because she really wanted to make a career of working with animals," her family said in a statement. |
| "She was a beautiful young woman who had just started her career, there was a terrible accident, and we are mourning." | "She was a beautiful young woman who had just started her career, there was a terrible accident, and we are mourning." |
| Ms Black had recently graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in animal behaviour. | Ms Black had recently graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in animal behaviour. |
| The 22-year-old had volunteered with other animals, including wolves. | The 22-year-old had volunteered with other animals, including wolves. |
| The family said she had started working at the centre, founded in 1999, only 10 days ago. | The family said she had started working at the centre, founded in 1999, only 10 days ago. |
| According to its website, the wildlife facility is home to 80 animals, including 15 lions. | According to its website, the wildlife facility is home to 80 animals, including 15 lions. |
| In a statement on Facebook, the centre said it was "devastated by the loss". | In a statement on Facebook, the centre said it was "devastated by the loss". |
| The park said the cleaning was supervised by a professionally trained keeper, and said it remained "unclear" how the lion had escaped. | The park said the cleaning was supervised by a professionally trained keeper, and said it remained "unclear" how the lion had escaped. |
| It also confirmed the animal was shot and killed at the scene after attempts to tranquilise it, in order to retrieve Ms Black's body, failed. | |
| The lion's identity has not been confirmed, but reports say it was a male named Matthai, who is no longer listed on the park's website. | |
| "This is the worst day of my life," the park's executive director, Mindy Stinner, said at a Sunday news conference. | "This is the worst day of my life," the park's executive director, Mindy Stinner, said at a Sunday news conference. |
| "We've lost a person. We've lost an animal. We have lost the faith in ourselves a little today." | "We've lost a person. We've lost an animal. We have lost the faith in ourselves a little today." |
| The centre will remain closed to the public until further notice, officials said. | The centre will remain closed to the public until further notice, officials said. |