The animals in the Kruger Park have clearly had enough of poaching.

A group of poachers entered the park on April 1 with the intention of hunting rhino.

Instead, they were attacked by an elephant who managed to land a deadly blow on one of the men.

The Guardian reports that after the poacher was killed, his fellow poachers carried his body to the road so that it could be discovered by passing cars, then left the park.

 [Police brigadier Leonard Hlathi] said the group of men left the park and informed a family member of the deceased what had happened, who contacted police. Park rangers began a search for the man, on foot and by air, but could not locate the man at first due to failing light.

When they returned on April 4, the body had been discovered by a pride of lions who finished the job, leaving nothing behind but a human skull and a pair of pants.

Three men, aged between 26 and 35, were arrested in the KaMhlushwa and Komatipoort precincts, police said in a statement.

The suspects appeared in court on 5 April charged with possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence, conspiracy to poach as well as trespassing. An inquest has also been opened into the cause of the man’s death.

In general, entering the Kruger National Park on foot is a bad idea. There are a lot of dangerous animals who really don’t want to be poached.

More than 1 000 rhinos are killed each year by poachers, so I guess the animals in the park are getting their own back.

[source:guardian]