Dave, a South Australian, recounted an incident from 1973 when an adult lion climbed onto his Datsun 1200's roof, causing it to collapse while he and his newlywed wife were inside. The couple was visiting Bullen's African Lion Safari Park in Two Wells, north of Adelaide, following their honeymoon. Dave described seeing the lion's tail over the windscreen and its front paws over the back window. Upon returning home, his wife's parents initially thought they had rolled the car due to the damage. Similar damage occurred when the lion placed its paws on the car's bonnet, causing it to indent.
Park Details and Other Incidents
Bullen's African Lion Safari Park was one of eight such parks established by the Bullen family, known for running circuses since the 1920s. The Two Wells park, which operated until 1981, allowed visitors to drive through fenced paddocks where lions roamed. Another visitor reportedly suggested Dave "shoo it off" while taking photos of the incident, which Dave and his wife were unable to document themselves.
Other visitors also shared experiences from the park. One listener recalled a woman feeding lions from a caged trailer, during which a lion on top of the cage reportedly grabbed her thumb. This incident was serious enough to be reported in the press. Signs at the park included "Poms on pushbikes admitted free" and "Trespassers will be eaten."
Lion Escapes and Rumors
Stories of escaped lions circulated, though some incidents may have been mistaken identity. However, a verified incident occurred in 1964 when four lions escaped a circus in Windsor, Adelaide's north. These lions roamed for two and a half hours after killing their 49-year-old keeper, George Herzog, who was feeding them. One lion returned to its cage; the other three were shot dead by police marksmen and a gun shop owner.
Aftermath of the Datsun Incident
After leaving the park, Dave managed to push out the folded roof and bonnet of his Datsun 1200, though small "pin dents" remained permanently. Years later, he saw his old car in Alice Springs, still bearing the dents, after it had been sold.