A suspected poacher was killed by an elephant at a South African national park, before a pride of lions ate his body.

The man was hunting rhino when the creature struck, South African National Parks said in a statement.

It added that his accomplices contacted the man’s family, who in turn asked rangers at the Kruger National Park to recover his remains.

Don English, the park’s regional ranger, led a search party for the body, assisted by field rangers and members of the park’s air wing, who flew above the area.

They later discovered the man’s remains.

Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Show all 8 1 /8 Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Tourists observe elephants Left devastated by Mozambique's civil war, Gorongosa National Park is now thriving Bob Poole / Gorongosa National Park Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Waterbuck graze in the open floodplains A restoration project with government backing has battled poachers who were depleting the already slim animal populations AFP/Getty Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Hippos take a dip In 2008, there were around 10,000 large animals in Gorongosa; today there are over 100,000 J Da Silva / Gorongosa National Park Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Wild dogs in Gorongosa National Park Tourism is an important part of the restoration project Gorongosa National Park Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Waterbuck on the savannah Tourists create jobs for locals, expanding the conservation workforce, and safaris in Gorongosa are used to educate visitors about the project Getty Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique A lioness The civil war killed 95% of Gorongosa's lion population, today there are 104 lions who are monitored by conservationists Ticky Rosa / Gorongosa National Park Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Sunset over the Gorongosa National Park Sunset over the National Park Gorongosa in the center of Mozambique. istock Getty Conservation success for the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique Tourists in Gorongosa National Park Tourists in Gorongosa National Park Credit: Bob Poole / Gorongosa National Park Bob Poole / Gorongosa National Park

“Indications found at the scene suggested that a pride of lions had devoured the remains, leaving only a human skull and a pair of pants,” a spokesperson for the national park said.

Glenn Phillips, the park’s managing director said: “Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise. It holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that. It is very sad to see the daughters of the deceased mourning the loss of their father and, worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains.”

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Four of the man’s alleged fellow poachers were arrested by South African Police Service officers.