Sky Posted September 20, 2005 Police: Lions eat 20 villagers in Ethiopia Attacks force people to flee their homes, officials say Tuesday, September 20, 2005; Posted: 9:41 a.m. EDT (13:41 GMT) ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- A pride of lions has killed and devoured 20 villagers, wounded 10 others and eaten at least 70 cattle in southern Ethiopia in the past week, police said Tuesday. The attacks have forced at least 1,000 people to flee their homes in Hadia Zone, in the Southern Nation and Nationalities People State, 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, according to a police statement. "The lions are coming from the bush seeking food," in groups of two to four animals, according to the statement. Lions attack and eat humans in areas where their wild prey has been reduced by over-hunting, deforestation and population growth. Older lions also become man-eaters because humans are a far easier prey than wildlife. "The 20 people were eaten by the lions while they engaged in their daily activities in their homes and nearby places," according to the police. "Killing these lions would be the only way to rescue the residents in the area and prevent other casualties," the police statement added. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
