Drunk Dutch tourist gets sharp lesson in lion petting

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

MONTPELLIER, France (AFP) — A Dutch tourist who drunkenly tried to pet a circus lion in its cage in southern France was nursing a wounded hand and neck Tuesday after being scratched in return, police said.

The unnamed 21-year-old woman was lucky to be only slightly injured in the incident, which occurred late Sunday after she and her friends went up to the cage following an evening of drinking in a campsite in the town of Vacquieres, near Montpellier, where the circus had put on its show, officers said.

She had stuck her hand in the enclosure in an attempt to touch the three-year old lion when the animal sprung around and slashed at her with its claws. The tourist was taken to hospital in Montpellier.

Police said the circus had not violated any safety...