22- year- old, Alex Black was killed by an escaped lion at wildlife center

Alexandra Black was attacked and killed by a lion at the Conservators Center in North Carolina. The attack happened after the lion escaped a zoo enclosure.

An investigation into the death of Alexandra Black has been launched. The 22-year-old intern was working at a North Carolina wildlife center when she lost her life.

Alex was mauled by a lion at the wildlife center. The lion had managed to escape from a locked area and attack the girl.

It then proceeded to kill a young intern. The accident has cast a spotlight on the laws around keeping exotic animals in private facilities in the state.

North Carolina is one of just four states in the nation with very few laws governing keeping wild animals like lions, bears and primates in captivity. According to The Humane Society of the United States, the state has almost no regulations in place to protect people and animals alike.

"Sadly, this incident illustrates the need for strong legislation to better restrict the private possession of dangerous wild animals," said Kitty Block, acting president and chief executive officer of The Humane Society of the United States.

.The incident had occurred on Sunday. The Caswell County Sheriff's Office investigators revealed that Black was cleaning an animal enclosure with a professionally trained animal keeper at the time of the incident.

The 14-year-old lion who mauled her to death is named Matthai. He had been locked in a separate enclosure but managed to escape somehow before he attacked Black.

"I think anytime you have an incident, you have to take time to really assess what happened and that means some investigation. And we need to understand it and make sure that it's something that never happens again," said Mindy Stinner, executive director of the Conservators Center.

Police have released very few details pertaining to the case. The victims family is starting to demand answers.

The Conservators Center is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was inspected on April 2 and was not in violation of any codes. The USDA's report showed that the facility housed a total of 85 animals, including 16 lions, three tigers, two leopards and four Bobcats.

The Conservators Center is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The association enforces the standards for public zoos in the U.S.

"Most facilities licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture to hold dangerous animals are not accredited by AZA, as is the case with the Conservators Center," the association said in a statement before adding, "We are empathetic to what the staff at the Conservators Center are going through and will assist with anything they need — from animal care to food and supplies."