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Rhino Poacher Killed by an Elephant and Eaten by Lions after Sneaking into Protected Park

Rodolfo Vieira
Apr 08, 2019
07:00 A.M.

An alleged poacher was recently attacked and killed by an elephant before being eaten by a pride of lions at one of the most famous national parks in South Africa.

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The poacher, whose identity is yet to be revealed, snuck inside the Kruger National Park with a group of friends hoping to hunt down a rhino but didn't expect to find an angry elephant.

According to the statement released by the park, rangers only managed to find a skull and a pair of pants, which is why they believe the man's body was eaten by the big felines.

One of the several elephants living at the Kruger National Park | Photo: ABC Television Stations

One of the several elephants living at the Kruger National Park | Photo: ABC Television Stations

RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES

The incident took place on Thursday, April 4, 2019. After seeing the elephant kill the poacher, the four men that were with him ran off and contacted his family.

Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise, it holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that,

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His relatives then called the Kruger Park, which deployed a search team, assisted by the Skukuza SAPS, to look for the remains in the Crocodile bridge section.

An aerial view of the Kruger National Park | Photo: ABC Television Stations

An aerial view of the Kruger National Park | Photo: ABC Television Stations

DANGEROUS FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS

The four men, who managed to escape unscathed, have already been identified and arrested and are expected to appear before a judge in the next few weeks.

It has been reported that the two-million-hectare park is home to hundreds of wild and dangerous animals, such as lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards, which is why it's not advisable to illegally enter the area.

A lion with his pride at the Kruger National Park | Photo: ABC Television Stations

A lion with his pride at the Kruger National Park | Photo: ABC Television Stations

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"Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise, it holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that. It is very sad to see the daughters of the diseased mourning the loss of their father, and worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains.”

KNP Managing Executive Glenn Phillips, Kruger National Park, April 4, 2019

Orphan rhinos being cared for at Kruger National Park | Photo: Sky News

Orphan rhinos being cared for at Kruger National Park | Photo: Sky News

A VERY SIMILAR INCIDENT

Last year, a group of poachers was also served a good dose of Karma at the Sibuya Game Reserve in Eastern Province, South Africa, as they were attacked and killed by a pride of lions.

A pride of lions resting at the Sibuya Game Reserve | Photo: Vida Loca

A pride of lions resting at the Sibuya Game Reserve | Photo: Vida Loca

The men snuck into the game reserve with the intent of killing rhinos for their valuable horns but were no match for the hungry and powerful lions, which only left a head, three pairs of shoes and a few body parts behind.

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