An alleged poacher, believed to be part of an illegal hunting group targeting rhinos, met a tragic and violent end in South Africa’s largest national park. The incident occurred earlier this month when a group of five poachers is said to have trespassed into the Kruger National Park, but only four of them made it out alive.
According to park officials, the unnamed man, a father, was killed after being trampled by an elephant and then devoured by a pride of lions. The elephant, startled by the man’s presence, instinctively charged at him. After the fatal attack, lions in the area reportedly found his body and mauled it.
Once news of the event reached park authorities, Don English, the regional manager, quickly organized a search operation. Park rangers, along with the park’s aerial unit, combed the area for any sign of the man’s remains. Based on evidence found at the scene, it seems that only the man’s skull and his pants were left after the lions had consumed most of his body. The grim discovery was made the following morning in the Crocodile Bridge area, a remote section of the park, after the search was paused overnight.
Glenn Phillips, the park’s managing executive, emphasized the dangers of illegally entering the park on foot, pointing out that this incident stands as a harsh reminder of the risks involved. While acknowledging the tragedy, he also expressed his sympathy for the man’s daughters, who were left grieving the loss of their father, with only a small part of his remains recovered.
Authorities have since arrested the man’s four accomplices, and they are set to face charges in court. Along with their arrest, police also seized their weapons and ammunition.
Kruger National Park has long battled the issue of illegal rhino poaching, with these animals being targeted for their horns, which are highly valuable on the black market. Rhino horns can fetch around $9,000 per pound, making them a lucrative, but illegal, trade in some parts of Asia.
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