11 Feb 2020

A 62-year-old man of Matobo in the Central District, was on Friday killed by a lion at Deep Maphane lands.

The deceased met his untimely death when he and five others, who survived the attack, followed the lion after it had killed one of their beasts.

Pandamatenga Police Station Commander, Superintendent Nelson Museke stated in an interview on Monday that the lion attacked the deceased, who had attempted to shoot at it and missed.

One of the men also fired a shot at the lion, but failed to kill it, stated Superintendent  Museke, noting that it was after the deceased had fired the second shot that the lion fiercely attacked, forcing each of them to climb up the nearby shrubs, but it grabbed the deceased and killed him instantly.

The lion was later killed by another man who was in the company of the deceased.

Superintendent Museke said the deceased was certified dead on arrival at Pandamatenga clinic before being transferred to Kasane Primary Hospital for post-mortem. The deceased’s next kin have been informed.

 According to Chobe regional wildlife officer, Mr Matshelo Makondo, relatives of any person who lost their lives to dangerous animals are paid ex-gratia payment of P70 000, P20 000 for the funeral cover and P50 in condolences. 

“This is no compensation because you cannot put a price tag on anyone’s life. It is payment done from a sense of moral obligation,” he added.

Animals considered dangerous include buffalos, lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, leopards and crocodiles.

Section 46 of Botswana’s Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act (Chapter 38:01) allows the owner of any property to kill a wild animal that has killed his animal or destroyed his property, but should report to the police or wildlife office within seven days.

On other issues, Mr Makondo said the body of a seven-year-old boy who was allegedly killed and eaten by a crocodile(s) along the Chobe River in January had not yet been found.

He said a few crocodiles had been killed from the river, but no traces of the victim's parts had been found. END