Safari guide killed by lion in Zimbabwe

The unfortunate incident occurred in the vicinity of the area where a world famous Zimbabwean lion, Cecil, was killed illegally recently by an American trophy hunter, Cecil.

A safari guide has been mauled to death as he saved tourists from a charging lion in the same national park where big cat Cecil lived. “Mr. Swales at first manage to scare the lions away but then the male lion later made a U-turn and attacked him”, Charamba told The Associated Press.

Shelley Cox, of African Bush Camps, which owns the Camp Hwange operation, said: ‘Quinn’s actions in successfully protecting the lives of his guests is heroic and reminiscent of his outstanding guiding skills, experience and training.

During the safari Monday, Swales spotted fresh lion spoor and chose to track a pride of two females, two males and two cubs, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said in a statement.

“Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety”, the company, Camp Hwange, said on its Facebook page, adding that no other members of the group were hurt.

‘I worked with Quinn while flying in Gabon and when Quinn decided that he had enough of flying and he wants to return to Zimbabwe to follow his past career and further his career as a safari guide all his colleagues supported him fully.

The man has been named as Quinn Swales, 40, according to a statement from Camp Hwange.

Swales’s last post on Facebook is a photo of a lion that is nearly certainly Cecil.

Police are investigating the case but it was not immediately clear whether Swales was armed.

Cases of people killed by wild animals in and around Zimbabwe’s national parks often go unreported, and in the past, some lions that have killed humans have been shot.

Hunt leader Theo Bronkhorst denies failing to prevent an illegal hunt and his trial is due to resume next month.