A moment of silence will be observed at noon today for a 24-year-old intern who was killed by an African lion Wednesday at an animal sanctuary in the foothill town of Dunlap.

Dianna Hanson was mauled while cleaning an enclosure at Project Survival's Cat Haven. A Fresno County sheriff's deputy then fatally shot Cous Cous, the 450-pound lion that attacked Hanson.

The sanctuary reopens at 10 a.m. today after being closed since the attack.

Cat Haven founder Dale Anderson said he and Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims will speak to the news media at 9 a.m. Mims is expected to address speculation that has circulated about the investigation into Hanson's death, a Cat Haven spokeswoman said.

Anderson said Saturday he had no further comment on the fatal attack.

"We are respecting the sheriff's department and the investigation," he said.

Sanctuary volunteers will wear T-shirts today honoring Hanson and Cous Cous. Boxes will be available for donations to support Cat Haven's cheetah conservation efforts in Kenya to honor Hanson's work there. Her other internships included a stint as a volunteer at a field research center for the Soysambu Conservancy.

The Dunlap sanctuary will operate with normal staff today, though most volunteers likely will be on hand to pay their respects to Hanson, Anderson said.

However, head keeper Megan Pauls will not be there today, a spokeswoman said.

Much is still unknown about what led to the fatal attack Wednesday. Anderson said Thursday that Hanson and the head keeper were following their normal routine of feeding the animals around noon. Hanson then began cleaning a nearby fenced enclosure.

Fresno County Coroner David Hadden said last week that Hanson was talking on a two-way radio, or walkie-talkie, with a co-worker before she was killed. Although some news agencies reported that the co-worker became concerned when the call ended abruptly, Hadden said he learned Friday that the co-worker did not find Hanson's body until "awhile after the call ended."

Hadden also said that the gate between the two enclosures might have been left open or not firmly latched, and the lion pawed open the gate. He said Hanson died of fatal neck injuries.

Federal, state and sheriff's investigations of the mauling are continuing. Meanwhile, Hanson's family said in statements released Friday that they believe safety protocols were followed and her death was a tragic accident.

What: Project Survival's Cat Haven

Where: 38257 E. Kings Canyon Road, Dunlap

Open: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Information: www.cathaven.com