The authorities in Lakes State have confirmed an attack by a hyena which resulted in the death of two people and severe injury of two others on Sunday.
The incident took place in Wun-rual village in Rumbek Central County. The marauding hyena was speared by a villager and fled to the bush where it eventually died.
Malok Baath, a resident of Wun-rual village, recounted to Radio Tamazuj that the hyena first knocked down and bit a man who was riding a bicycle.
“The hyena dragged him to the bush before the victim’s brother came to the rescue. Unfortunately, the hyena kept biting the victim and bit his brother too. Two other people were bitten and injured by the hyena during the scuffle,” he explained. “Word of the attack spread through the village and residents rushed to help. The deceased was identified as Makon Makhat while the man who speared the hyena is called Maker Bith.”
According to Baath, one of the people who was bitten by the hyena later died in hospital
For his part, Lakes State Police Spokesperson Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac said that according to the report the police received, the hyena struck at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
“A young man identified as Moch bought tobacco at the PDU market near the village and took it to his mother in Wun-rual on Sunday evening. After delivering the tobacco and while returning, he encountered the hyena on the road. When he tried to scare the hyena away, it refused to move,” he said. “Moch then called his brother for help, but the hyena attacked him, breaking his arm. The brother who came to the rescue was also attacked. As more people rushed in to help, the hyena continued its rampage, resulting in the death of one person on the spot.”
“A soldier tried to use a panga to strike the hyena but was also injured by the animal in the process,” Maj. Mabor added.
He said one of the victims died at Rumbek State Hospital and identified the dead as Moch Machuoc Makuac and Makon Makhat Yuol and said Maker Bith Machuoc and Chier Machuei Makuei who the hyena wounded are receiving treatment.
Maj. Mabor cautioned people about moving alone at night.
“We are not sure whether the hyena had rabies or was simply hungry. People should be very careful and avoid moving alone at night,” he counseled. “Traveling in groups and carrying sticks, pangas, or spears can help defend against such incidents.”
Meanwhile, Captain Kachuol Makuer, the deputy inspector of the wildlife service in Rumbek Central County, said hyenas are active at night and encouraged residents to go home early in the evening.
“I am very sorry about that incident and urge everyone to work during the day and go back home by 5 or 6 pm because most animals look for their food at night,” he said.
As a measure of protection, Capt. Makuer said his department might have to establish outposts in areas prone to such incidents to prevent future attacks.
James Majok, the surgeon in charge of the surgical ward at Rumbek State Hospital, sadly reported that one of the three hyena attack victims died during treatment but said the rest are stable.