Suspected poacher killed by elephant then eaten by lions

Rangers recover skull and pair of trousers in hunt for remains

A suspected poacher was killed by an elephant at a South African national park, before a pride of lions ate his body.

The man was hunting rhino when the creature struck, South African National Parks said in a statement.

It added that his accomplices contacted the man’s family, who in turn asked rangers at the Kruger National Park to recover his remains.

Don English, the park’s regional ranger, led a search party for the body, assisted by field rangers and members of the park’s air wing, who flew above the area.

They later discovered the man’s remains.

“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,” a spokesperson for the national park said.

Glenn Phillips, the park’s managing director said: “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 deceased mourning the loss of their father and, worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains.”

Four of the man’s alleged fellow poachers were arrested by South African Police Service officers.

“The four arrested individuals are in custody and will appear in court in due course,” the park spokesperson said.