Poacher killed by elephant is eaten by lions

A SUSPECTED rhino poacher was trampled to death by an elephant before being eaten by a pride of lions.

The unnamed man was with several poachers stalking endangered rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger National Park when they were attacked by the elephant on Tuesday evening.

The man’s family alerted Don English, the Skukuza regional ranger, after the surviving poachers told them what had happened. But a search for the man’s remains had to be called off because of fading light, and it was not until Thursday evening they discovered his head and a few items of clothing.

“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.

“Skukuza police were notified and are busy with further investigations into the incident,” the park said.

Four other members of the hunting party were arrested and are expected to appear in court soon. Glenn Phillips, the park’s managing executive, said: “Entering the Kruger illegally and on foot is not wise as it holds very many dangers and this incident is clear evidence of that. It was very sad to see the daughters of the deceased man mourning the loss of their father, and worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains.”

Rhino poaching surged in South Africa in the last decade amid increasing demand for their horns in China.

More than 1,000 of the animals were poached in the country in 2017.