Three (3) poachers who broke into a South African game reserve on an illegal hunt to find rhinos have reportedly been eating by a pride of hungry lions. The poachers were torn to shreds by six big cats at the Sibuya Game Reserve in Kenton-on-Sea, South Africa, where staffers this week discovered bloody body parts including a head and limbs.
Speaking to www.express.co.uk, Owner Nick Fox, 60, said: “We found enough body parts and three pairs of empty shoes which suggest to us that the lions ate at least three of them but it is thick bush and there could be more. “They came heavily armed with hunting rifles and axes which we have recovered and enough food to last them for several days so we suspect they were after all of our rhinos here. “But the lions are our watchers and guardians and they picked the wrong pride and became a meal.
“Whilst 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.”
The remains of the bodies were found as darkness fell on 3 July but staff had to wait until daylight on 4 July when the area could be declared safe to go in and recover what was left. Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender confirmed that the remains had been found in the lion camp and that detectives were on the scene trying to work out how many were eaten. Captain Govender said: “We do not know identities but firearms have been taken by the police and will be sent to the ballistics laboratory to see if they have been used in poaching before.”
In February a poacher hunting lions in the Umbabat Game Reserve near the Kruger National Park was killed by lions and was identified by his sister in law from all that remained his head. South Africa is home to more than 80 percent of the world’s rhinos. Their horns are sought after for dubious medical benefits throughout Asia. More than 1,000 rhinos were slaughtered for their horns in the country last year.
A lot of people have been killed by animals in Zimbabwe with the recent event coming barely a year ago. According to www.atqnews.com, South African hunter Scott Van Zyl was killed by crocodiles during a hunting expedition in Zimbabwe. Scott Van Zyl, 44, was with a local tracker and a pack of hunting dogs when he disappeared in mid-April. A week later, his remains were found in the carcass of a crocodile shot and killed by local authorities. Zimbabwe was also home to Cecil the famous lion who was a star attraction at Hwange National Park. Cecil was shot and killed by Walter Palmer, a dentist from a small town near Minnesota. The kill subsequently sparked massive outrage all over whe world with people demanding for justice for Cecil.
