Lions devour poacher in game reserve

LIONS have mauled to death and eaten a suspected poacher – leaving only his head to identify him.

The man’s remains, along with a loaded hunting rifle, were found at a private game reserve near Kruger National Park in South Africa, where poaching incidents have risen in recent years.

Limpopo province police spokesman Moatshe Ngoepe said: ‘It seems the victim was poaching in the game park when he was attacked and killed by lions. They ate his body.’

Officers are trying to establish the dead man’s identity.

Wildlife photographer Charlie Lynham, 59, originally from Liverpool who now lives close to the Ingwelala reserve, suggested there may have been three poachers involved.

‘Two sets of footprints have been found running away and obviously the dead and eaten man,’ he said. ‘Although speculation, it would seem very possible that you have poetic justice here.’

Last year, several lions were found poisoned in the same province, with heads and paws sawn off. They are often killed for body parts, which are said to have medicinal properties. Just 20,000 African lions are said to remain in the wild.