Kruger received a lot of heavy rain and thunderstorms over the weekend, unfortunately lightning struck a Eskom power line inside the park causing it to fall down and electrocute at least six animals.
A power failure occurred inside the park and a Eskom team was assigned to try fix the problem, when the team headed out they discovered that the power failure occurred because of the fallen power line.
According to SANParks media specialist Ike Phaalha six animals, including lions and a giraffe, were found electrocuted at the scene, after a Eskom power line which runs between Kruger Gate and Skukuza fell after being struck by lightning over the weekend.
When the team headed out to check on the damage caused by the power line, they first found lions feeding on a dead rhino carcass, it was not confirmed if the rhino was poached or electrocuted, the section rangers also arrived at the scene after being contacted by the Eskom team. While scouting the area they also discovered two dead lions, a giraffe and a two hyenas.
The section rangers recovered the dead’s rhino horn and was taken for safe custody.
It was most likely that the giraffe was electrocuted by the power line first, and lions not being able to say no to a free meal moved into the carcass, but the power line still had a current running through it and as soon as the lions began feeding on the giraffe they were electrocuted as well. The same thing probably happened to the hyenas after they started scavenging on the free meal.
This was not the first time that heavy rains caused deaths in the park, last year an elephant was found dead close to Orpen camp after being struck by lightning. You can read that story here.