Suspected Poacher Eaten By Pride Of Lions In South Africa

A suspected poacher is believed to have been eaten by a lion pride this past week. According to reports, the unidentified male, along with four others, were attempting to poach a rhinoceros in South Africa on Tuesday when he was killed by an elephant before being eaten by lions at the Kruger National Park.

“Indications found at the scene suggested that a pride of lions had devoured the remains leaving only a human skull and a pair of pants,” the parks service said in a statement, according to the New York Post.

Poaching, though illegal, is extremely popular in South Africa. Last year alone, 769 poaching incidents were reported there. Most illegal activity occurs in Kruger National Park, a protected habitat on South Africa’s north-eastern border with Mozambique.

The unidentified victim's remains were located by authorities on Thursday. The alleged accomplices he was with were arrested, and the South African Police Service reported two of them had rifles and ammunition on them, reports CBS. They were also charged with conspiracy to poach and trespassing.

Glenn Phillips, the managing executive of Kruger National Park, warned others of entering the park, saying, “Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise, it holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that.”

Phillips added, “It is very sad to see the daughters of the deceased mourning the loss of their father, and worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains.”