A Rhino poacher, whose name has not been released was killed and devoured while out on an illegal poaching expedition in South Africa’s Kruger National Park it was reported to the family of the man on  Tuesday by the group of poachers. After finding out the fate of the man, the family reported the incident to a park ranger.

The man entered the park in a group of five hunting Rhinos, an animal valued for their horn worth approximately $1,700 per ounce, or $27,000 a pound.

According to the report, the man was trampled to death by an elephant and then devoured by a pride of lions in the park.

After the incident, park authorities set up and carried out a search for the poacher’s remains late Tuesday until dark. The search was taken up again on Wednesday. All that could be found of the hunter was his skull and the tattered remains of his trousers. With that, officials were able to make a preliminary identification.

The man’s fellow poachers were arrested the day after they reported the incident.

The horn of the black and white Rhino has been a bane for the animal. The horn is ground up and sold on the Asian Black market, especially in Vietnam, as an aphrodisiac, traditional medicine and a sign of wealth.

The population of the Black Rhino plunged from 65,000 in 1970 to 2,400 in 1995. Now, the population at the Kruger Park is estimated to be between 350-465. Only 6,600 to 7,800  WHite Rhinos are known to be in the park.

“Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise,” the managing executive of the park said. “It holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that.”

On Saturday, following the incident, $2.1 million of horns were intercepted and seized at the Hong Kong Airport.

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