Poacher eaten by lion

2010-03-23 22:07

Johannesburg - Two suspected poachers have been arrested and a third is believed to have been killed by a lion in the Kruger National Park (KNP) last week.

According to the two that were caught, the trio went into the park on the night of March 12 to set up snares to catch animals, KNP spokesperson William Mabasa said in a statement on Tuesday.

"They returned on the night of the 13th to see if they caught anything. On their way back they came across some hippos, which charged them and they ran in different directions."

Two of them got out of the park safely, but got worried when their friend didn't return by Tuesday.

"One of the poachers was the nephew of the third man and he told his mother that he did not return from the park, and she reported the matter to the police."

The two men were arrested in Mkhuhlu village, where they lived, near Hazyview. They took the police to the spot where they had last seen their accomplice.

"Some blood and torn clothing was found."

Rangers found a human skull in the Pretoriuskop section of the park on Saturday. It was believed the third man had been caught and eaten by a lion.

The arrested pair were being held at the Skukuza police station. They were known and wanted by the police for poaching.

Mpumalanga police could not immediately confirm the incident.
 

- SAPA