Sam Mac’s terrifying close call at the zoo
Sam Mac has had a close call with a menacing lion at Sydney Zoo, just days after five of them escaped at Taronga Zoo.
The Sunrise weatherman was speaking to Marco, one of the zoo’s lion keepers, about Virunga, a massive 220kg lion.
Virunga kept pacing up and down his enclosure as the pair discussed how big he is before Sam got the fright of his life.
“The size of the paws, you feel their breath, the sounds that they make,” Sam said.
Suddenly, Virunga jumped at the fence causing Sam and Marco to jump back, while in the studio Natalie Barr and David Kochie could be heard exclaiming “oh my goodness”.
“He’s very hungry,” Marco said.
Sam then jokingly mentioned the incident at Taronga Zoo in which five lions escaped their enclosure - sounding the warning alarm.
“Did you have that moment when you suddenly realise you’ve left the iron on at home?” he asked.
“Like, ‘have I done all of my checks, are all of the gates closed? Did you have that moment?”
Marco confessed that the incident at Taronga Zoo was a “definitely a good reminder” to ensure that he’s locked up the lions for everyone’s safety.
He then handed Sam a piece of meat to feed Virunga and put his palm up against the fence before getting another fright.
“So, just keep the fingers away, that’s all I need to know?" Sam asked
“Yep, just keep the meat in the palm of your hand, aim for one of the squares around his head height, and keep your hand nice and flat,” Marco said.
Once again, Virunga jumped at the fence, placing his large paw on it, scaring Sam away.
“Whoah - ohhh. I know there’s a cage there, but it’s still just ... it’s so intimidating!”
Marco tried to hand Sam another piece of meat to feed Virunga but he said he was “good”.
“My favourite animal - but ideally with a fence between us.”
Image: Sunrise