In South Africa, a shocking incident saw rhino poachers mauled and eaten by lions.
When wildlife takes back control, nature can be merciless. Three poachers learned this the hard way.
The events took place inside the private Shibuya Game Reserve in South Africa.
According to local reports, three armed men illegally entered the reserve to hunt rhinos for their horns. But what began as a poaching mission quickly turned into a bloodbath.
Rhino poachers hunted down by lions
Park rangers and police only recovered the victim’s badly mauled pants, pictured, and his skull after his agonising death having been crushed by an elephant and then eaten by lions
The trio came face-to-face with a pride of lions, which swiftly attacked and devoured them. Authorities later confirmed that the hunters were overpowered and killed within moments.
“They found themselves surrounded by six lions and had very little time to react,” explained Nick Fox, owner of the reserve, at the time to AFP. He added that only human remains, clothing, and weapons were found on-site.
An anti-poaching unit later discovered a high-caliber rifle with a silencer, an axe, wire cutters, and enough food supplies for several days — clear evidence that the group planned an extended rhino poaching mission.
Plice later arrested the man’s accomplices and seized these two rifles and ammunition
The rhino: an endangered species
South Africa is home to the world’s largest rhino population, estimated at 16,000 to 18,000 individuals. Despite this, the species remains under severe threat due to poaching. Every year, thousands of rhinos are slaughtered for their horns, which fetch astronomical prices on the black market in Asia.
Rhino horns are especially sought after in traditional Asian medicine for their alleged healing properties — claims not supported by science.
To fight this ongoing crisis, conservationists and scientists are implementing new strategies. Some have even proposed making rhino horns radioactive to deter poachers and protect these endangered animals from extinction.
Karma walked on four paws that day.
