Teenage girl hospitalised after being mauled while trying to kiss a lion through bars of cage

Duma had been rubbing his face against the cage when Lauren Fagen decided to kiss his fur

According to reports Ms Fagen suffered 10 flesh wounds on her legs and feet and will require a further two weeks in hospital to recover. (GETTY IMAGES)

A teenage girl has been hospitalised after being mauled by a lion as she attempted to kiss it through the bars at a South African wildlife park.

Lauren Fagen, of Montreal, told The Globe and Mail newspaper that she was kissing the fur of Duma, a male lion at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, when it reached through the bars and dragged her legs into the compound.

Duma had been rubbing his face against the cage next to his when Ms Fagen decided to kiss his fur.

According to reports Ms Fagen suffered 10 flesh wounds on her legs and feet and will require a further two weeks in hospital to recover.

The 18-year-old volunteer worker is now recovering in hospital after the incident on Monday.

"I didn't realise he could stick his paws through. I should have died or lost a leg," Ms Fagen told The Globe and Mail newspaper.

"It was a miracle that I survived. He could have ripped off my skin and I would have died of blood loss."