Durban - The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife father of two who was attacked and killed by a lioness in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game reserve on Monday put up an enormous struggle before being overcome by the starving and sick predator.
The 45-year-old water attendant, whose name has not been released yet, had been walking through the bush with a colleague – both of them unarmed – to start pumping water to a nearby tourist lodge and staff accommodation camp.
It is understood that a sick lioness, weakened by tuberculosis and unable to hunt its usual prey, pounced on him and killed him at about 7.30am. He had an early morning routine that involved firing up a diesel generator next to the Mfolozi River to pump water to camps in the Mfolozi section of the park, close to the Masinda tourist lodge and staff quarters.
He was accompanied by a colleague who was learning how to take over the responsibilities of the victim, who was due to go on leave soon.
Sources said the colleague fled after the lioness attacked the water attendant, and rushed back to summon help, but it was too late.
“I’m told he put up a hell of a fight – but a man is no match for a fully grown lioness, even if it is sick,” said a wildlife official.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesman Musa Mntambo said by the time colleagues reached his side, the water attendant was severely injured and died soon afterwards.
The lioness was tracked down and shot dead close to the scene.
Mntambo said the victim had worked in the park for nearly 16 years as a water attendant.
Ezemvelo said it would assist family members with his funeral and was also making arrangements for trauma counselling for them and the staff member.
Ezemvelo chief executive David Mabunda said it was not normal for a lioness to attack a human being unless it was protecting young cubs, was sick, or unable to hunt. Park management plans specified that sick lions should be destroyed.
There are thought to be about 120 lions living in the 96 000ha park.
The attack has also raised questions about Ezemvelo’s efforts to control bovine tuberculosis, a disease that can be transmitted to lions that feed on affected buffalo.
The Mercury