Hyena kills young girl at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

A hyena attack at a privately owned lodge in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve led to the death of a young girl on the evening of Friday, 27 December. The reserve lies on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, extending into both Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The victim was the daughter of one of the staff members employed at the lodge. Edwin Pierce, warden of the reserve, told Daily Maverick he was “deeply saddened” to confirm the deadly attack.

“The incident occurred at the lodge concerned and Timbavati Reserve management is providing support and assistance to the lodge and the police investigating team wherever possible,” he said.

“This heartbreaking incident underscores the inherent risks of living alongside wild animals, and while we are committed to preserving and respecting the harmony of nature, we are equally reminded of its unpredictability.”

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve has a high density of wildlife and a range of lodges and camps. Pierce did not name the lodge at which the attack took place.

He noted that the Timbavati reserve management was responsible for handling the overall reserve, but not the operation of privately owned lodges within it, meaning it could not provide “any firsthand information about, nor comment on the circumstances surrounding the incident”.

“On behalf of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family during this exceptionally difficult time. We kindly request that the media respect their privacy as they navigate their grief. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them,” he said.

Pierce did not respond to a question about what wildlife barriers and protections were in place at the lodge. He referred Daily Maverick to the South African Police Service (SAPS) investigating team for further information on the incident.

The SAPS had not responded to Daily Maverick’s query at the time of publishing.

Hyena attacks involving humans are an uncommon occurrence but there have been a handful of incidents in South Africa over the past 15 years. In November 2023, Frans Ndlovu lost his eye during an encounter with a hyena while guarding wildlife against poachers at a Musina game farm in Limpopo, according to SowetanLIVE.

A 15-year-old boy was left in serious condition in 2016 when he was attacked by a hyena while sleeping in a compartment of his family’s tent at the Kruger National Park, according to a report by The Guardian.

In another incident reported by the Mail & Guardian, a hyena attacked a 13-year-old boy who was camping at Sontuli Camp in Imfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2011. DM

This is a developing story.