The men had held the girl for a week in the remote south-west, repeatedly beating her, before the lions chased them away.

"They stood guard [for half a day] until [police and family] found her and then they just left her like a gift," said Sergeant Wondimu Wendaju inKefa province.

"If the lions had not come then it could have been much worse. Often these young girls are raped and severely beaten to force them to accept the marriage," he said.

Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural development ministry, said it was likely the girl had been saved because she was crying.

"A young girl whimpering could be mistaken for the mewing sound from a lion cub, which in turn could explain why [the lions] didn't eat her," he said.

The girl was "shocked and terrified" and had to be treated for the cuts from her beatings, Sgt Wondimu said.

He said police had caught four of the men, but were still looking for three others.