Who Was Alexandra Black? Lion Kills Conservators Center Intern

A woman killed by a lion Sunday while working at the Conservators Center in North Carolina as an intern has been identified as Alexandra Black.

Black, 22, from Palestine, Indiana, was attacked by the animal when was she working as part of a cleanup team inside the lion’s enclosure. The animal managed to somehow escape the locked space and attack the team members who were busy cleaning the enclosure at the time. Black was killed instantly.

The deceased, who also went by the name Alex Black, was a recent graduate of Indiana State University and was employed at the center for around two weeks, the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. She had previously interned with Wildcare Inc., in Bloomington, Indiana, and Wildcat Creek Wildlife Center, according to her LinkedIn page, and had written in May 2018 that she was looking for employment.

“Provided daily care for wildlife undergoing rehabilitation, as well as, training domestic rats and updating species-specific care protocol. Duties included: cleaning, diet preparation, administering medication, medical exams, behavioral training, filing documentation, answering phones, and communicating with members of the public about their wildlife concerns,” she wrote, Heavy reported.

Black also volunteered at the Frenzy Animal Rescue, Inc., where her responsibilities included “administering mediation, feeding, cleaning, supervising dog-dog interactions, and socializing dogs.” She was also involved with clubs and societies such as ICAN at Indiana University, the Biology Club, PAWS and Midnight Snipes Quidditch. She also aspired to be a zookeeper one day as she was devoted to animal welfare.

“I’m a recent graduate of Indiana University where I earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Behavior while minoring in Biology. I am currently looking to gain experience in animal husbandry, specifically with ‘exotic’ species as I hope to eventually become a zookeeper!” she wrote.

According to CBS17, Black's family released the following statement on her death:

“Alex loved animals. Our beautiful, intelligent, passionate Alex had worked, unpaid, at several animal-related ventures, most recently at Wolf Park in Battleground, Indiana. This was her fourth internship, because she really wanted to make a career of working with animals. She was looking forward to this first out-of-state internship at the Conservators Center in North Carolina starting 10 days ago. She was a beautiful young woman who had just started her career, there was a terrible accident, and we are mourning. But she died following her passion. We ask that you consider donating to Wolf Park in Battleground, Indiana, to honor Alex.”

The cause of the attack was not immediately known.

“It is unclear at this time how the lion left the locked enclosure. Several attempts to tranquilize the lion failed. The lion was shot and killed by Caswell County deputies in order to allow officials to retrieve the victim,” the sheriff’s press release added.

According to the center’s website, it was home to 15 lions, “many of whom arrived as part of a USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] placement after the Ohio State Fish and Wildlife Service seized animals from poor living conditions in 2004. Of the 10 lions who arrived at the Center in 2004, three were pregnant and gave birth to over 10 cubs.” The lion which attacked Black was named Matthai and it no longer appeared on the website.