SAPS Investigates Death at Kruger National Park, SA Speculates as Man Found With Part of Leg Missing

SAPS Investigates Death at Kruger National Park, SA Speculates as Man Found With Part of Leg Missing

  • The South African Police Services in Skukuza is investigating the death of a man at the Kruger National Park
  • The body of the man was discovered by rangers, with police confirming that part of the man's leg was missing
  • South Africans weighed in on the discovery, with some joking that the animals didn't like the taste of the man
A body was discovered at the Kruger National Park
SAPS are investigating the death of a man at the Kruger National Park whose body was discovered with part of his leg missing. Image: Godong/ Darren Stewart
Source: Getty Images

MPUMALANGA – Skukuza police have opened an inquest case following the discovery of a dead body at the Kruger National Park.

A man in his late 40s was found dead in the park by field rangers in the early hours of Monday, 20 January 2025. He was found with injuries to his lower right limb.

Man missing part of his right leg

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lt-Col Jabu Ndubane said the individual had already passed on when police arrived at the scene.

Part of his right leg was also missing.

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Ndubane said that preliminary investigations led police to believe that the man may have been bitten and killed by wild animals.

A previous report from the South African National Parks (SANParks) indicated that the man, who is a suspected poacher, was killed by a hippopotamus.

“We are aware that the deceased was attacked by a hippo,” Isaac Phaahla, Manager of Communications and Marketing, told Briefly News.

The man is not the first suspected poacher to be killed by the wild animals at the park. On 23 October 2021, a suspected poacher was trampled to death by an elephant.

The deceased was previously arrested

Police also noted that records showed that the deceased was previously arrested and was due to appear in court on a case of trespassing. His identity has not yet been made public, as his family has not formally identified him.

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SAPS also requested members of the public to refrain from entering the park illegally as they endangered their lives by doing so.

SA weighs in on SAPS’ statement

Social media users couldn’t help but note that the man had part of his leg missing, with many questioning if the animals didn’t like the taste of him.

Erna Erika Houtzamer said:

“He didn’t taste nice. So, they only took a bite.”

Johann Hattingh stated:

It would be interesting to see the outcome of this. Was his leg bitten off by an animal or by knife/panga?”

Julie Roos teased:

“He couldn't run away.”

Aneesa Ebrahim joked:

“Aaah, only his leg. He wasn’t tasty enough.”

Jack Mhlava said:

“The hunter becomes the hunted😂.”

Jr-Mike D Manzini joked:

“He got poached🤣.”

Peter Keagan Chaane added:

“The meat was not tender, so they just left it.”

SANParks employee killed in hippo attack

On 23 August 2023, Briefly News reported how a SANParks manager lost his life during a camping trip.

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The manager from Pretoria was camping in Mpumalanga when he was attacked by a resident hippo.

Many social media users were surprised and saddened by the news of how he actually died.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Byron Pillay avatar

Byron Pillay (Current Affairs Editor) Byron Pillay is a Current Affairs Editor at Briefly News. He received a Diploma in Journalism from the Caxton Cadet School. He spent 11 years covering a wide variety of news as a community journalist, including politics, crime and current affairs. He also was a Head of Department for Sports Brief, where he covered both local and international sporting news. Email: byron.pillay@briefly.co.za