https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...EATEN-two-lions.html


Link has article and photo of the victim and dead lions.

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com...&utm_medium=referral


Tracker eaten by lions in Limpopo game reserve
News24
8th March 2021, 22:40 GMT+11

A 27-year-old game tracker has been killed by lions while on duty at a game reserve in Limpopo.
The tracker reportedly left his vehicle to follow cheetah tracks, when he was attacked by two male lions.
The lions have been euthanised after the attack.

A tracker has been killed by lions in a game reserve in the Waterberg district of Limpopo.

Malibongwe Mfila, 27, employed at Marataba Safari Lodge, was attacked and killed by lions on Saturday on the Marataba Contractual National Park inside the Marakele National Park, said police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.



"It is alleged that he was busy driving around in the bush checking where animals such as elephants, lions and others were in order to advise the guides as and when they do game drives. He then reportedly decided to stop the vehicle and get out and as he was walking, he was suddenly attacked and killed by two lions," confirmed Mojapelo.



The incident was confirmed by SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli.

According to a statement released by the More Family Collection, the owners of Marataba Luxury Lodges, Mfila was a FGASA Level 3 qualified tracker.

"He was tracking wildlife as part of his usual duties on the Marataba Contractual National Park. He was following up on cheetah tracks and appears to have alighted from the vehicle, as per procedure, when the incident occurred. He had walked just 20 metres from the vehicle when he came upon two young male lions hidden in the thicket. The lions attacked and killed him," said the statement.

Marataba's Park Management confirmed the two lions had been euthanised so that post mortems could be conducted.

"Malibongwe was an integral part of the Marataba Luxury Lodges field guiding team, who always conducted himself in a professional manner and had great promise for a very successful future. The Marataba family is devastated by this loss. His sunny disposition coupled with his natural talent will be sorely missed," said Robert More, CEO and owner of the More Family Collection.

An inquest has been opened. Police investigations are continuing, added Mojapelo.

Source: News24

Being attacked by dangerous game is no joke and I feel sorry that these defenceless individuals could not defend themselves.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Being attacked by dangerous game is no joke and I feel sorry that these defenceless individuals could not defend themselves.

+1

Seems a shame he was not carrying a weapon, or perhaps was not allowed to carry one.

On the other hand, it sounded like a very fast ambush by two Lions, so there may not have been enough time to react had he been armed. Traveling alone like that seems to be risky business, but it's done all of the time by natives.

RIP young scout.

Unfortunately I scrolled down and saw that there were comments. People make me sick.

RIP to this young man.

Looked like a nice young kid too.

Things like this happen now and then

in the wilds. Cats of all kinds and sizes

are well known to attack people.

George

Very sad indeed.

But, let us not loose sight of common sense.

I have been on numerous long walks in game parks, and have been within 3 meters of lions lying in the bush while in an open truck, with no doors.

I did not feel very comfortable, but was informed these animals would not attack.

The only occasion where someone was attacked, was when a tourist ignored the advice and got out of the truck for a photo.

This actually happened the day we arrived, and were told an American lady decided to get out of the car and get a better photo with the lions.

A lioness jumped her, and luckily was only playing so no serious damage was done.

You go out in the bush where there wild animals, and you just have to accept something might happen.

Funny enough, despite all the time I have spent in the bush, I feel more scared driving in town!

This is a terrible thing, but unfortunately, it happens all too often.

I am astonished by how nonchalant people can be in dangerous game country when what is needed are vigilance and ready means of self-defense.

On my first safari, we were driving through the bush at mid-morning, when just about all of us needed a pit stop of one kind or the other.

Our driver stopped the truck, and my wife and I climbed down and began to walk off towards a nearby thicket.

My PH, a veteran of over 40 years of dangerous game hunting all over Africa, simply said to me, “Mike, take your rifle.”

Good advice!

Smart people carry a rifle every time they get off of the truck in a dangerous game area. I was taught that by my PHs time and time again. So damn sad that the tracker was not allowed to do the same. He lost his life because of an indefensible and unreasonable prohibition.

Sometimes, one cannot carry a rifle.

In Kenya, we were in a park, surrounded by what looked like 1000 elephants.

The were stretched over a very large open area.

Some were fighting some were playing.

Some actually put their trunks inside our open truck, sniffing.

I told everyone to remain still.

Nothing happened.

At a waterhole, we stopped on top of a small hill looking at elephants playing in the water.

I was the only one who noticed a young bull coming from the other side - everyone was busy watching the ones at the water hole.

I informed our drive, and he said he know that bull and not to worry.

Sure enough, he came straight for the truck, had a sniff around and walked to the water.

quote:

I informed our drive, and he said he know that bull and not to worry.

Famous last words. Wild animals are wild, no matter how many times they approach a vehicle, or appear to be tame, domesticated or to be your 'friend'. It only takes once. Something may affect that animal that you are unaware of and it attacks. Too many people forget that the animals are not Disney characters in Disneyland. If people are prohibited from carrying a rifle for a group's protection and an animal attacks, then what? For me, there wouldn't be enough money in the world from the Defendants to make things right. Stupid laws by and for stupid people. Carry on all of you Disneyland believers. I would suggest that all who believe otherwise to watch the video of the domesticated brown bear that killed a relative of its owner a few years back. He was having his picture taken with the bear when it suddenly and unexpectedly attacked him biting his neck. He was literally dead before he hit the ground. All on video much to the horror of everyone involved. Just one example. If no one could carry, I would have to at least have Saeed there with me.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

I informed our drive, and he said he know that bull and not to worry.

Famous last words. Wild animals are wild, no matter how many times they approach a vehicle, or appear to be tame, domesticated or to be your 'friend'. It only takes once. Something may affect that animal that you are unaware of and it attacks. Too many people forget that the animals are not Disney characters in Disneyland. If people are prohibited from carrying a rifle for a group's protection and an animal attacks, then what? For me, there wouldn't be enough money in the world from the Defendants to make things right. Stupid laws by and for stupid people. Carry on all of you Disneyland believers. I would suggest that all who believe otherwise to watch the video of the domesticated brown bear that killed a relative of its owner a few years back. He was having his picture taken with the bear when it suddenly and unexpectedly attacked him biting his neck. He was literally dead before he hit the ground. All on video much to the horror of everyone involved. Just one example. If no one could carry, I would have to at least have Saeed there with me.

Yes.

True wild animals can be unpredictable.

But, it is YOUR choice to stay home.

Or take a chance and have some fun.

Saeed, I am surprised at you.

A couple of years ago, while on a game drive in Chobe National Park in Botswana, we had a guide, a woman actually, who was quite the daredevil. She would approach elephants in the vehicle, with my wife and I, and several other people, in open seats in the back.

She would creep up to them, and get far too close for comfort. On two occasions, the elephants began to approach us in a menacing manner, and she hurriedly put the vehicle in gear and drove away.

After this, I strongly suggested to her, politely, of course, not to do that anymore.

I explained that it was too dangerous, that elephants can be violent when provoked, are unpredictable in any case, and should not be tempted or taunted.

What would she do, I asked her, if her vehicle's engine stalled when she needed to escape fast?

She laughed and told me not to be frightened.

I then told her that if she wanted to keep this up, she needed to give me an elephant rifle or take us back to base. (By the way, there was, of course, no firearm of any kind in the vehicle - and I did not tell her that on prior trips I had hunted these same elephants or their cousins across the Chobe River in the Caprivi Strip.)

She behaved responsibly for the rest of the drive.

Very sad for the young man but a phrase mentioned earlier comes to mind.

Common sense.

It's mind boggling why someone would walk alone and unarmed, following cheetah tracks, in an area where dangerous game exists? For goodness sake.

Surely there would be protocols to follow when alighting from a vehicle?

Only one person at fault here.