Attack ... lions killed poacher

A POACHER has been eaten by lions in South Africa's Kruger Park, officials said today.

Rangers said they believed the man was devoured by the beasts after he was chased by a pack of wild hippos while hunting in the world famous reserve.

He was reported missing last week by two alleged fellow poachers who managed to escape the horror.

Officials who searched the area where the attack happened later discovered part of a human skull and pieces of ripped clothing.

Vicious

South African National Parks spokeswoman Laura Mukwevho said the group had been setting snares when they were cornered by the animals.

She added: "What we have heard from those who survived suggests this was a vicious attack by wild animals.

"It appears the man was chased by hippos. We assume he must then have been eaten by lions.

"It is impossible to say whether he was alive or dead by the time the lions got to him."

A statement released by the park said: "Two individuals, who are currently poaching suspects and were with the deceased inside the park, actually alerted his family about the possibility of him having being killed by animals in the park.

"According to these suspects who were with the deceased, the three men entered the park on the night of March 12 to place snares in the area.

"The following night they went back to check if there was any catch on their snares but nothing was caught.

"That night the suspects alerted the attention of hippos who charged them, however, they managed to escape and eventually got out of the park.

"The deceased was not fortunate enough to make an escape and that is when the two suspects decided to inform his family about what had happened.

"The family reported him missing to the police, who referred the matter to the park rangers and mounted a search.

"After two days of patrol, the rangers managed to pick-up few pieces of clothes and eventually the skull on March 20."

The victim of the lion attack has not yet been named but officials indicated he was a local man.

His two pals were today being held at a police station near the park.

A spokesman said it was believed the pair could have been linked to other poaching cases at the reserve.

Kruger Park's head of public relations William Mabase paid his condolences to the family of the dead man.

He said: "On behalf of SANParks, we wish to express our sincere condolences to the family for the loss of their loved one.

"Many lives have been lost to wild animals due to people not taking the necessary precautions."

The Kruger Park is one of the world's largest and best-known game reserves.