3 RHINO POACHERS ARE EATEN BY LIONS
Pride pounce on gang hunting rhino in reserve
LIONS ate a gang of poachers who broke into a South African game reserve to slaughter its rhinos.
The six-strong pride scoffed at least three hunters and one head was recovered at the scene along with body parts.
A vet tranquilised the lions at the Sibuya Game Reserve, near Kenton-on-Sea in Eastern Cape, so that police and staff could recover the remains.
Owner Nick Fox, 60, said: “We found enough body parts and three pairs of empty shoes, which suggest the lions ate at least three of them but it is thick bush and there could be more.
“They came with hunting rifles and axes which we have recovered and enough food to last several days, so we suspect they were after all of our rhinos.
“But the lions are our watchers and guardians and they picked the wrong pride and became a meal. While we are saddened at any loss of life, the poachers came here to kill our animals and this sends out a very clear message to any other poachers that you will not always be the winner.”
Police captain Mali Govender confirmed the remains were found on July 3 and detectives are trying to work ouout how many poachers were eaeaten. She said: “We do not kknow identities but firearms wwill be sent to the ballistics llab to see if they have been uused in poaching before.”
So far this year, poachers have killed nine rhinos in Eastern Cape reserves – all shots with a high-calibre hunting rifle. It is hoped the gang eaten by the lions were the ones responsible.
Sibuya is one of the most popular game reserves in Eastern Cape and is home to the Big Five of elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard.
In 2016, the reserve lost three rhinos to poachers who shot them and hacked off their horns.