Human Skull, Torn Clothes Were All That Is Left Of A Rhino Poacher Who Entered A Reserve Illegally

A human skull and a handful of torn clothes were all that remained of a rhino poacher who police in South Africa believe was trampled by elephants and eaten by lions.

Photos of the scene released by the South African Police Service revealed a shredded rag lying in grass.

The force also tweeted images of rifles and ammunition seized from a group accused of poaching with the man.

Kruger authorities say lions mauled the corpse of the unnamed dead man after he was killed by the elephants in the big game reserve, leaving "very little remains."


Two people were arrested and the pictured artillery seized after the grisly incident in the world-famous Kruger National Park on April 1, local time.

Authorities said earlier it is believed a group of men alarmed the elephant which then charged at the group near Crocodile Bridge, deep in the reserve.

A pride of lions is then believed to have mauled the man's remains.

Kruger authorities said the victim had two young daughters.

Glenn Phillips, managing executive of the reserve, said earlier: "Entering the Kruger illegally and on foot is not wise as it holds very many dangers and this incident is clear evidence of that.

"It was very sad to see the daughters of the deceased man mourning the loss of their father, and worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains."

The Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest reserve in the country, covering more than 12,000 square miles.

It is home to rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lions and leopards.