PICS | Late-night hyena attack leaves camper seriously injured

Hyena

Cape Town – A 27-year-old South African man, Nicolas Hohls, was attacked by two hyenas after leaving a gap in his tent while returning from a bachelor party at Cape Vidal Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

According to reports, the hyenas grabbed his leg and head, inflicting serious injuries.

Nicolas fought back, jamming his hand into one hyena’s mouth and his thumb into the other’s eye, while his father rushed to his aid with a torch, Daily Mail reported.


Both predators eventually fled.

Nicolas sustained severe bites to his face, scalp, hand, and leg, requiring over 70 stitches and plastic surgery.

His father Colin Hohls drove him to the hospital due to the remoteness of the reserve.

“He suffered injuries to his left leg and face,” The South African quoted Colin as saying.

“The hyenas only backed off when I intervened.”

“I bundled him into my double-cab and drove straight to the (Netcare The Bay) hospital,” he recalled.

“Thankfully, his skull wasn’t fractured, but he underwent plastic surgery on his face, leg, and ankle. He’s recovering well.”

Wildlife officials confirmed the incident and advised campers to keep tents fully zipped.

Hyenas, which have the strongest bite force of any carnivore, rarely attack humans but can be drawn to campsites by food or meat, posing a serious risk when hungry.

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