CHIREDZI: A three-year-old girl was killed and eaten by two lions last weekend, while her brother was left fighting for his life in hospital.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) confirmed the incident, saying they had people on the ground investigating the incident.

 “The incident happened Iin Chiredzi on Saturday night as the family was preparing supper around 6pm..

“It occurred after the mother sent her 12-year-old son who was piggybacking his…sister to get mealie-meal from the bedroom, which was a few metres away.

“As they returned to the kitchen, they were attacked and the sister was ripped off from the back while the brother managed to escape into the kitchen,” said ZimParks public relations manager, Tinashe Farawo.

“The mother called to neighbours but it was too late and only the head and intestines were left,” he said, adding that “the boy is admitted at Chiredzi hospital”.

 Farawo said the same lions, which had attacked goats the previous day, went on to attack cattle, killing one that same night.

“We are on the ground attending to the issues and to capture and relocate them. In some cases we eliminate them as a last resort.

“One of our biggest challenges is funding so that we effectively deal with human and wildlife conflict,” he said.

Earlier this year, a man was also attacked by lions but managed to escape. daily news