Lion opens family's car door with his teeth

In the comfort and security of their car, a family thought there was nothing to worry about as they drove through a South African safari park - until a lion calmly opened their back door with his teeth.

Published: 11:28AM GMT 16 Nov 2009

The lion may have appeared wild, but it had clearly learnt one or two things about cars after years of watching curious visitors drive past.

As the white Toyota came to a halt in the Lion Safari Park in Johannesburg, it slowly padded over while the family inside watched in excitement, unaware of what was about to happen.

Their glee turned to horror as the 300lb lion firmly took the rear door handle with his teeth and pulled it open in one deft movement.

For several seconds the car remained still while the occupants digested the shock of what had happened before finally hitting the accelerator and driving off.

As they fled, the lion followed in pursuit until it reached the gates of the enclosure. There it was finally held back by a warden who hurled stones to shoo it back.

Richard Holden, a British tourist, was behind the family in the Toyota and managed to capture the action on his camera.

All the visitors were told to take off all removable items, like windscreen wipers and aerials, and lock their windows and doors.

But Mr Holden, 32, an engineer, who was on holiday with wife Candice, 32, a teacher, and their two-year-old daughter Faye, said the car in front had obviously left the doors unlocked.

However, even then if the animals managed to get inside they are well fed by park keepers and would be unlikely to attack any tourists.

"But they must have been panicking because they didn't drive off straight away," said Mr Holden, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

"If that had been me, I would have hit the gas."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6580461/Lion-opens-familys-car-door-with-his-teeth.html