Pig Allegedly Mauls 91-Year-Old Woman To Death, Victim's Body Found With 'Scavenger Marks'

In a horrific incident, a 91-year-old grandmother died after she was allegedly mauled by a pig in South Africa. The incident reportedly took place on Jan. 7.

A spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Ayongezwa Lungisa told News24 the health department has launched an investigation to confirm the cause of death.

“It is reported that the deceased was found showing signs of decomposition on the afternoon of 7 January 2021. It is reported that there were no animals around her when she was found. However, there were ‘scavenger marks’ observed by the community members, that indicated that animals might have fed on the deceased,” Lungisa reportedly said. “On 8 January 2021, the department became aware of the death of a person alleged to [have been] bitten by a pig in Tsomo,” News24 reported.

Authorities said the elderly woman lived with her son in Mdukuteni Village in Tsomo.

“The cause of death can only be determined by the Department of Health, under the Forensic Pathology Services. Their findings on the cause of death will be the final verdict or pronouncement made by experts on whether animals fed on the deceased,” Lungisa said.

He said a veterinarian has been dispatched by the department to further investigate the incident, and added there was no scientific reason so far to put down the pigs in the area.

“The department, under the Animal Disease Act 35 of 1984, is tasked with disease control and each disease outbreak or investigation is approached differently, based on the history and clinical circumstances.”

In April last year, a 4-year-old boy was mauled to death by a herd of pigs near a garbage dump. The incident took place in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. According to reports at the time, the child was playing outside his house when the pigs dragged him away. Some locals who were in the area found the body of the child. When they went close to inspect, they saw that the boy's body had been partially eaten. The residents immediately informed the local police who rushed to the scene.

“A pack of pigs was loitering around the garbage dump and attacked the child on spotting him. The animals partially ate the body of the boy,” K Srinivas, station house officer, told local media at the time.