The lion that killed a young, female intern at a North Carolina animal preserve in December momentarily escaped from a section of its pen that wasn't properly closed, an investigation has revealed.
Alexandra Black, 22, died of blood loss after being mauled by a male lion named Matthai at Conservators Center in Caswell County on December 30, according to WRAL-TV.
Black was part of the husbandry team helping an animal keeper who was doing a routine cleaning that day.
A large ball blocked the gate to Matthai's pen, preventing it from closing properly.
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Alexandra Black, 22, (pictured) was helping an animal keeper clean a lion enclosure inside the Conservators Center in Caswell County, North Carolina, on December 30 when she was fatally mauled by a lion, according to a new report
Zoo officials said the lion, a male named Matthai (pictured above), was able to attack Black because a large ball prevented the gate to his pen from closing properly
The obstruction allowed the lion to break free, enter the area where the team was cleaning and attack Black, according to the autopsy report.
He was able to bit her ankle and pull her into his pen. The lion then dragged her around enclosure by her neck for 'an extended period of time,' the autopsy states.
Animal trainer Ashley Watts told investigators she tried to separate Matthai and Black by closing the pen, but the lion pulled Black into the enclosure.
Matthai was shot and killed by
