Vegas Lion Attack Caught on Tape by Honeymooners

(CBS)  Most couples never forget their honeymoon.

But Titus and Drew Ellis have a special reason theirs will always stand out.

The newlyweds, who live in Bozeman, Montana, were in Las Vegas on Sept. 1, and decided to check out the lion habitat at the MGM Grand Hotel.

Titus was videotaping the lions and their two trainers, when all of a sudden one of the lions lunged at one of the trainers.

A struggle ensued, and he managed to free himself with the help of his colleague.

Titus and Drew told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith what it was like to witness the attack:

[Noodles88]

The lion in question was in no way going into attack mode as he didn't adopt the classic hunch when cats are about to pounce on their victim. You have to be an idiot to nt see that the lion was clearly in a playful mood as he flopped onto his side exposing his belly. ANyone who owns or knows anything about domestic cats will know that they only do this in play and by exposing his belly it is a VERY clear submissive gesture as that part of a cats anotomy is very tender and if exposed can lead to a kill bite from an attacker. I sincerly hope that this majestic animal was not shot as the trainer was clearly not harmed in any way, another indcator that there was no harm meant. If that lion meant to kill he would have done so in seconds and there was no blood on the trainer. This is not my main concern. WHY OR WHY in this day and age are wild animals still used and abused in order to perform for human entertainment shows? This animal will (no doubt in my mind) have suffered cruelly in order to beat the wild out of him and forced to perform tricks that do not come naturally to his nature. America seems most rife in keeping exotic big cats as pets. There needs more rigid laws applied to stop this gross activity. They BELONG in the WILD people, how can we live with ourselves if in 30 years time we cna't tell are children about Lions, Tigers, Pumas, Cheetah's etc. Wake up earth the world belongs to all of us not just humans, we have to re-intergrate these magnificant animals back into their own habitat where they can have the life can God designed for them and have the chance to pull themselves back from the brink of extinction.

[jakeswife1]

Well lets just hope the Lion's in Detroit can PLAY like that this year
GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oliviajustice]

Animals number one enemy is man. If man could learn to leave them alone in the wild, then they wouldn't end up in places like "animal sancturies" and "zoos", where we breed them in captivity and sell them off as attractions because they can not be released into the wild. It just turns into a vicious cycle. Clearly the animals do not belong in captivity! But clearly they were also playing, like a kitten toys with a mouse. CBS, shame on you!

[careifucan]

I hate to see wild animals in captivity for entertainment purposes.
It is just wrong and then be upset when they act like what they are,
wild animals. If this lion wanted this guy it was a done deal.
Take them back to Africa and it won't be a problem.

[pragmatist1]

I agree that this really wasn't an attack. The lion could have easily mauled both of these guys to death. I also feel we need to stop using wild animals for entertainment. Let them live naturally in their own habitats and let whatever happens to them, happen, including extinction.

[imthaid]

I would have tried to eat the other guy. Looks like better marbling.

[Noval53]

Clearly the lion was at play. If he was attacking, both trainers would have been dead in seconds.

[Quantrill13]

When are thse do gooder nit-wits going to realize that LIONS are wild beasts? They can, revert back to their jungle ways in seconds.

[RunsWithWolves]

Quantrill13,
Lions DON'T live in jungles. Never have.

[xmassan]

Lion finally has his day after beng kept down doing trick for the man. Go lion! Go lion! Go lion!

[fendergibsongirl]

I agree, it does in fact look like the lion was only playing. As other people have mentioned, if either lion really wanted to attack one of the trainer's they certainly would have! It looks to me as if both of the trainers are a couple of morons, sorry, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.