Pride of lions kills a poacher, devoured his body leaving only his head

A suspected poacher has been eaten by a pride of lions, leaving just his head behind, South African police say.

The unidentified man's remains were found lying next to a loaded hunting rifle in a private game reserve near the Kruger National Park in Limpopo province on Saturday morning.

Locals were first alerted to something amiss by the sound of screams and scattered gunshots.

But it was too late to help.

Limpopo police spokesman Moatshe Ngoepe told news agency AFP: "It seems the victim was poaching in the game park when he was attacked and killed by lions. They ate his body, nearly all of it, and just left his head and some remains."

Police are now trying to establish exactly who the man was.

It is not known what animal he was hunting when he died - however it may have been the lions.

Lion body parts can be used in traditional medicine.

BBC News