A gang of rhino killers apparently received a dose of their own medicine when they met up with a pride of lions on Sibuya Game Reserve, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
The incident is believed to have occurred in the wee morning hours of July 2nd, according to reserve owner Nick Fox.
They were armed with, amongst other things, a high powered rifle with a silencer, an axe, wire cutters and had food supplies for a number of days – all the hallmarks of a gang intent on killing rhino and removing their horns.
It was an anti-poaching dog who first sounded the alarm at approximately 4:30 am. Her handler reported that he heard a “loud commotion coming from the lions so he suspected that this was what had alerted her and was not concerned” since it is not uncommon to hear lions at night.
However, the next afternoon, a field guide alerted the Reserve’s Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) that “there appeared to be human remains as well as other items in the immediate vicinity of the lions.”
Fox said he was immediately called to the scene, where a high powered rifle, gloves, wire cutters and the remains of a back pack with food, water and other supplies were found.
We immediately alerted the Indalo (Association of Eastern Cape Game Reserves) Anti-Poaching Cluster and the Police. Clearly, the poachers had walked into a pride of six lions and some, if not all had been killed.
The reserve’s veterinarian was called in to dart the lions in order to allow police and the APU to gather evidence from the scene.
