Man Eater of Rufiji
 

Hi! Over the weekend i saw a Nat Geo documentary (dont remember the name)....but was about a maneater in Southern Tanzania which killed 49 people.

In brief, the findings were that the killings of people were more during the rainy months when prey was hard to find. After this maneater was finally shot down (they named him Osama, after you know who-) they found similar observations between this lion and the famed man eaters of Tsavo. Maneless lion with chipped canine teeth (maybe difficult to kill regular prey?)

Maybe some of you have seen this, if not- keep a look out for it!!!

Rgds,
Hari

Hari,

Sorry I missed the show, I had read about this when I was in Tanzania last year and googled for it when I got home but didn't find much. I saw statistics on his kills and most victims were taken in one of two ways. Some young men who were sitting on raised platforms used as observation stops for guarding cattle(can someone help me with their name) were taken when the lion leaped up and pulled them down. The second method Osama used was to leap on the roof of a hut and fall thru the roof on the occupant (thought about that a lot when sleeping in a tent). A few people were taken while walking.

George

Hi George,

Hard to say, this particular episode dramatized it a bit....Hollywood style, but, they made a mention that the lion would stalk people outside their hut, the occupant would scream....other ppl would come running to see what is going on, then Osama would strike!!!

Also, some innocent lions/lionesses were victims in this whole episode by mistake......before Osama was finally taken down.

Hari

Hari, I saw it several months ago and found it very interesting.

I have seen the man eaters of Tsavo -- they are now stuffed and on exhibit in the Field Museum in Chicago (they may also have the man eaters from Mfuwe, too).

Hari,

The report I read was quite detailed and I wish I had access to a copier at the time. As I recalled Osama was the eighth lion they killed.

George

Hi! Michael, from memory those tsavo lions did love eating the indian rail road constructors.....

George: possibly so......the Nat Geo show wasnt as detailed. They did show a lioness that was killed by mistake, though....