Anti-poaching ranger is mauled to death by a lion while on patrol protecting rhinos in South Africa

A dedicated anti-poaching ranger was viciously mauled to death after being ambushed by a starving lion in a South African safari park.

Kobus Marais, 46, was on patrol protecting rhinos on Saturday morning when he fell victim to the desperate predator which had been lying in wait for him.

Described as a ‘wildlife warrior’ by his distraught colleagues, the experienced game ranger was found dead with horrific wounds by his fellow patrollers who heard his screams for help.

Tragic anti-poaching patrol ranger Kobus Marais (left) with his patrol K9 Heily goes through an exercise

Tragic anti-rhino patrol ranger Kobus Marais with his K9 patrol dog Heily. PHOTO: Lauren L'Ange

Kobus Marais (pictured above with his dog Heily who was with him during the incident), 46, was killed during patrol protecting rhinos on Saturday morning. The right picture shows members of the anti-rhino poaching patrol at the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa

Ranger Kobus Marais was mauled to death by a lion in the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. He was seen here with his K9 anti-poaching patrol dog Heily and a fellow ranger in front of their anti-poached vehicle at the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa

Ranger Kobus Marais was mauled to death by a lion in the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. He was seen here with his K9 anti-poaching patrol dog Heily and a fellow ranger in front of their anti-poached vehicle at the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa

The ranger was ambushed by the rogue lion while patrolling the Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg with his dog Heily and two of his fellow patrollers. 

Kobus’s colleagues, who had driven ahead to lay a training scent for the patrol dog, were unaware that the man was being stalked by the wild beast.

When they heard his screams for help, they raced back through the bush and found the man-eater on top of the ranger. They opened fire and killed it with several shots.

They rushed to help the stricken ranger – who was armed but is believed not to have seen the lion as his weapon was not fired – who had been horrifically injured.

Kobus, who had been mauled and repeatedly bitten by the lion, was bleeding heavily before succumbing to his wounds.

His Belgian Malinois patrol dog was found nearby uninjured but clearly fearful.

The lion was taken to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute for a post mortem – there appeared to be nothing underlying to cause it to attack apart from old age. 

Spokesman for the Pilanesberg National Park Piet Nel said: ‘Kobus was a true wildlife warrior and was loved by all his fellow patrollers and all our staff. 

Kobus was pictured with his patrol dog Heily. Heily was on patrol with Kobus during the incident

The experienced game ranger was killed by a starving lion on Saturday morning

Described as a ‘wildlife warrior’ by his distraught colleagues, the experienced game ranger was found dead with horrific wounds by his fellow patrollers who heard his screams for help. Pictures above show Kobus with his dog Heily, who was on patrol with him on Saturday

The ranger was ambushed by the rogue lion while patrolling the Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg with his dog Heily and two of his fellow patrollers (file photo)

The ranger was ambushed by the rogue lion while patrolling the Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg with his dog Heily and two of his fellow patrollers (file photo)

‘What Kobus was doing out there was standard procedure and no protocols were broken and all the rules were followed but in the wild these things can happen.

‘We are investigating all our protocols to see what we can learn but training the patrol dog to track scents is a vital part of its training and this is what Kobus was doing.

‘He was clearly taken by surprise and fatally wounded before he could react and had no chance to use his firearm or he would have used it and death was near instant. 

‘Kobus was one of our strong guys and extremely dedicated and put so much effort into training the other rangers to be the best and we are all grieving for his loss. 

‘The rhinos here at Pilanesberg have lost a true friend and conservation has lost a true wildlife warrior. To Lottie Marais, his wife, we express our most heartfelt condolences.

‘Kobus, you have left a void in so many lives and you will be greatly missed. Thank you for your contribution. We are so, so sorry.You paid the highest price,’ said the spokesman.  

The ranger was ambushed by the rogue lion while patrolling the Pilanesberg National Park (pictured) near Johannesburg, South Africa, with his dog Heily and two of his fellow patrollers

The ranger was ambushed by the rogue lion while patrolling the Pilanesberg National Park (pictured) near Johannesburg, South Africa, with his dog Heily and two of his fellow patrollers

A spokesman for the Rhino 911 conservation group said: ‘Kobus was a gentle and kind soul and a true conservation warrior and the rhinos have lost a brave and dedicated guardian’. 

Ecotourism graduate student Lauren L’Ange, 27, who photographed Kobus with his latest K9 dog Heily said: ‘He was dedicated to what he did and was an excellent game ranger.

‘He spent so much time out protecting rhinos and also taking Heily out into schools and to meet the public to teach them about the conservation of rhinos and the work he did.

‘His wife Charlotte is the representative here of Copenhagen Zoo and they sponsored and trained Heily for Kobus when his last K9 Dexter unexpectedly passed away in 2016.

‘Kobus was such a dedicated ranger and lived for his rhinos and his work.It is a totally tragic way for him to lose his life.Lottie will be so devastated to lose him’ she said.

A South African wildlife expert said: ‘When males become too old to be the dominant member of the pride they are forced out of the pride by the younger stronger males.

‘Unable to hunt for themselves properly they become emaciated and begin to starve and then they take risks to try and feed themselves with ordinarily they would never take.

‘That is what probably happened here in that an elderly lion no longer able to catch its own prey realised that its very survival depended on making a kill on a human being.

‘It is extremely unusual but you have to remember lions do not play by any rules,’ he added. 

source: dailymail.co.uk