Members of the Mdlankomo community killed an old and weak lioness after it attacked a community member on May 22. The victim sustained serious injuries during the incident.

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SANParks head of communications, Rey Thakhuli, confirmed the incident.

“We can confirm the incident as per information received from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), indicating that a lioness attacked and injured a community member in the Mdlankomo community. Later communication confirmed that members of the community tracked and killed the lioness involved in the attack before officials could intervene. The matter remains sensitive as it involves human injury and the killing of a problem animal by the community,” he said.

MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shongwe added that the lioness had attacked a calf previously before turning on the community member.

“The removal of the animal will be handled by the MTPA,” he concluded.