Lion attacks man, man kills lion.

[hongi]

Lion killer is killed by hyenas

A Kenyan herdsman who fought off and killed a lion, has died after being attacked by a pack of hyenas.

Moses Lekalau, 35, was walking home in the Maralal safari area north-east of Nairobi when the lion leapt out at him.

Exhausted by his struggle, he lacked the strength to fight off a subsequent attack by hyenas.

Mr Lekalau was eventually rescued by a passing motorist who drove him to hospital. He was airlifted to Nairobi for surgery but died of blood loss.

Terrible injuries

Mr Lekalau told doctors that it took him half an hour to spear and bludgeon the lion to death.

As a Samburu, he came from a community where it is traditional for boys to kill a lion as a rite of passage on entering manhood.

He spent seven hours in the operating theatre where doctors treating his extensive injuries were at first hopeful he would survive, but he had lost too much blood.

"Hyenas are cowardly animals that usually feed on leftovers," Kenyan Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udot told reporters . "They must have been very hungry and realised the victim was vulnerable after the lion attack."

National parks in Kenya are not fenced off and the wildlife roam freely so animal attacks are quite common in rural areas.

Saw it first on SB. Hyenas are actually very successful hunters, so the mere fact that the guy survived the hyenas whilst totally exhausted is amazing. BAMF of the year probably.

[Sea Skimmer]

Hyenas certain are good killers. Until night vision cameras became affordable for animial researchers it wasn’t realized that actually many kills lions are seen feeding on in daylight were actually brought down by Hyenas in the night, who then get driven off by the larger lions. Damn lazy cats.

[Tasoth]

There was going to be a joke about the hyenas lying in wait with firearms here.

Seriously, he fought a lion for 30 minutes? I'd be done in less then a minute with the lion coming away with a mouth full of me. The fact that he survived the hyenas until help arrived is truly impressive.

[Psychic_Sandwich]

What in God's name do they feed people in Kenya that they can fight lions on their own and win?

[The Spartan]

Issue that man a BAMF of the Week Award.

If you're too tired to fight off a pack of hyenas (animals that have been known to kill solitary lions) because you just finished killing a lion yourself, you deserve said award. Even if posthumously given.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

What in God's name do they feed people in Kenya that they can fight lions on their own and win? :shock:

Note: Solitary lion attacks solitary human. Why? Humans usually aren't meaty enough to make it worth the caloric expenditure required to catch them. The lion in question was likely an older, sickly individual. Or a very young, inexperienced male. That means the lion in question probably would've been much easier (for a certain definition of "easy," obviously) to fight than a male lion in his prime, or a lion associated with a pride.

That is, of course, not to say that you or I would've managed to avoid being killed and eaten, even with access to a rifle of appropriately large caliber.

[Imperial Overlord]

Mr Lekalau told doctors that it took him half an hour to spear and bludgeon the lion to death.

He was armed, which is sensible for a herdsman in an area which has predators. It is impressive that he killed a lion, but hardly surprising.

[Adrian Laguna]

Mr Lekalau told doctors that it took him half an hour to spear and bludgeon the lion to death.

He was armed, which is sensible for a herdsman in an area which has predators. It is impressive that he killed a lion, but hardly surprising.

Well yeah he was armed, but with a pointy stick. If it was a fight between a lion and a knight in full plate I'd bet on the lion, so I'm still very impressed.

[TithonusSyndrome]

"Hyenas are cowardly animals that usually feed on leftovers," Kenyan Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udot told reporters . "They must have been very hungry and realised the victim was vulnerable after the lion attack."

I can't help but read a characterization like this and blanch a little. Hyenas are exploiting a fruitful evolutionary niche, they're not evil Disney minions with no qualities we'd celebrate that fail to meet the furry role equivalent of chisel-chinned barrel-chested stock gallant hero.

[Singular Intellect]

What in God's name do they feed people in Kenya that they can fight lions on their own and win?

It's more to do with people living in and adapted to a much more wild and dangerous enviroment than your typical first world citizen, who cries when they see a particularily big spider.

[Singular Intellect]

Mr Lekalau told doctors that it took him half an hour to spear and bludgeon the lion to death.

He was armed, which is sensible for a herdsman in an area which has predators. It is impressive that he killed a lion, but hardly surprising.

Well yeah he was armed, but with a pointy stick. If it was a fight between a lion and a knight in full plate I'd bet on the lion, so I'm still very impressed.

I'd argue that would depend on if the knight was also armed, and the kind of person it was.

[chitoryu12]

He was armed, which is sensible for a herdsman in an area which has predators. It is impressive that he killed a lion, but hardly surprising.

Well yeah he was armed, but with a pointy stick. If it was a fight between a lion and a knight in full plate I'd bet on the lion, so I'm still very impressed.

I'd argue that would depend on if the knight was also armed, and the kind of person it was.

You also have to take into account the inflexibility of the armor. Against a lion, it's doubtful that a knight in full plate armor with a sword could maneuver quickly enough to avoid getting hit by a paw swipe. Moreover, he would tire far quicker, and if pinned would be easy prey. It doesn't seem particularly difficult for the helmet to be loosened, either, so if the lion moves the helmet up enough the knight's throat would be partially exposed.

[Adrian Laguna]

You also have to take into account the inflexibility of the armor. Against a lion, it's doubtful that a knight in full plate armor with a sword could maneuver quickly enough to avoid getting hit by a paw swipe. Moreover, he would tire far quicker, and if pinned would be easy prey. It doesn't seem particularly difficult for the helmet to be loosened, either, so if the lion moves the helmet up enough the knight's throat would be partially exposed.

Oh I assure you medieval plate was quite flexible, fairly lightweight, and distributed its weight excellently. Knights could do hand stands, cartwheels, and even vault unto horses while in full plate. The only problem was ventilation, a knight on foot would overheat very quickly.

[Imperial Overlord]

Don't disrespect the spear. Its a great weapon if you have to go hand to hand with a predator that can bite your face off, because it can seriously injure or kill the fucker before it can reach you. Of course a gun would be better.

[chitoryu12]

You also have to take into account the inflexibility of the armor. Against a lion, it's doubtful that a knight in full plate armor with a sword could maneuver quickly enough to avoid getting hit by a paw swipe. Moreover, he would tire far quicker, and if pinned would be easy prey. It doesn't seem particularly difficult for the helmet to be loosened, either, so if the lion moves the helmet up enough the knight's throat would be partially exposed.

Oh I assure you medieval plate was quite flexible, fairly lightweight, and distributed its weight excellently. Knights could do hand stands, cartwheels, and even vault unto horses while in full plate. The only problem was ventilation, a knight on foot would overheat very quickly.

Well, at least I was half-right on that statement.

[Tanasinn]

"Hyenas are cowardly animals that usually feed on leftovers," Kenyan Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udot told reporters . "They must have been very hungry and realised the victim was vulnerable after the lion attack."

I can't help but read a characterization like this and blanch a little. Hyenas are exploiting a fruitful evolutionary niche, they're not evil Disney minions with no qualities we'd celebrate that fail to meet the furry role equivalent of chisel-chinned barrel-chested stock gallant hero.

What I find even worse about it is that this is a "Wildlife Service spokesman," you'd think he'd be more informed.