The Conservators Center has been an attraction near the Alamance-Caswell County line, north of Burlington, for almost 20 years. It began by rescuing big cats and other exotic animals that were seized in U.S. Department of Agriculture investigations and raids.
On Sunday, 22-year-old Alexandra Black was killed during a routine enclosure cleaning when a lion escaped a separate holding enclosure and attacked. Black was an intern at the center and planned to pursue a career in animal husbandry or zookeeping.
Reporter Kate Croxton has been following the story all day.