BRAVE RANGER MAULED BY LION, SURVIVES

SITEKI – A combination of luck, bravery and unprecedented strength saved Hlane Royal National Park Chief Ranger George Mbatha from a lioness attack on Wednesday afternoon.

Mbatha, a passionate protector of the country’s national heritage and conservation, has been protecting wild animals for over three decades.
He was mauled by the lioness while going about his duties. He owes his life to the bravery of three of his colleagues, who fought and overpowered the wild cat after it had pounced on the veteran ranger.

According to Ted Reilly, Chief Executive of Big Game Parks, it was around 4:30pm on Wednesday when Mbatha together with three others went to remove a fallen tree that had damaged a fence. “A lioness, using the fallen tree to cross the fence, unexpectedly jumped onto the fallen tree, charged across it and sprang onto Mbatha, who fell to the ground,” said Reilly.

Characteristically of lioness attacks, Reilly said the lioness went straight for Mbatha’s throat but the veteran ranger used his experience and ‘put up his arm to protect himself’ but got bitten severely on the arms. “Being pinned down on his back by the lioness, he kicked it. The lioness let go of his arm and attacked his legs, biting both of them severely,” Reilly stated.

Instead of fleeing, Mbatha’s colleagues exhibited bravery and confronted the lioness, Reilly stated.
sticks
He said they first threw sticks at the lioness with the hope of frightening it off, however, the lioness remained resolute in its aim to grab Mbatha by the neck. “In response the lioness, still on top of Mbatha, threatened to attack the labourers, who all stood their ground.  One of them, in a moment of extreme courage and resourcefulness, grabbed a chainsaw nearby and started it, and with the machine at high revs he rushed at the lioness, which retreated, leaving Mbatha to get away to the safety of their vehicle,” Reilly narrated.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: