A man who attempted to poach a rhino was reportedly trampled to death by an elephant in Kruger National Park in South Africa.
When park rangers went to retrieve the man’s body, they found a pair of pants and a human head near Crocodile Bridge; it appears a pride of lions may have devoured the poacher’s remains.
The man was accompanied by four other hunters, all of whom were arrested for poaching and will soon appear in court.
The park’s managing executive, Glen Phillips, told Letaba Herald, “Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise, it holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that.”
Kruger is one of South Africa’s largest game reserves. Its wildlife includes the “Big Five” game animals: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalos, making this park a prime target for poachers.
Phillips continued, “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.”
Earlier this year, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs reported “significant progress” has been made toward eliminating rhino poaching in the country. Rhino poaching decreased by 25% from 2017 to 2018, although there is still more work to be done.
Poaching is deadly and rips wildlife and human families apart. There must be simultaneous improvements to poaching laws and poverty conditions to stop this horrific practice for good.
oh the sweet side of Justice! Poacher got what he deserved. I have no pity on the worthless poacher
I was glad to hear this news. I wish this happened to all poachers. One would wish that the man’s daughters had stopped him from committing (or trying to commit) such an atrocious act, but in any case, it’s one of the first times I hear of poachers getting what they actually deserve. This is poetic and a rare instance of justice.
Karma does come around!
Karma
Thank goodness that the rhino poachers are finally going to jail, it took long enough!
Although I am sorry that this man’s daughters will not see their father again,but he should not be poaching these endangered animals like all the other commenter’s here have said that he deserved it,I would like to believe that the elephant who trampled him was saving the rhino and other’s from this evil poacher….To many animals have been orphaned and cruelly sold to either live in cages or in circus’s to be beaten and tortured to crush their spirit,how dare humans think they have the right to use animals and their young and use them badly.
YOU SAID IT, Marguerite — you’re RIGHT — we are judging the horrific CRIMES committed by PSYCHO-POACHERS — society MUST NOT ALLOW heinous, unconscionable, cruel, sadistic, depraved, brutal, hateful acts against animals — we MUST PROTECT the world’s animals — they are vulnerable & innocent & deserve to LIVE.