The “Man-Eater of Mfuwe” was a notorious lion that terrorized communities in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley during 1991. This large male Southern African lion became one of the most well-known man-eating big cats on record. Its actions instilled widespread fear among the local populace, making it a prominent example of human-wildlife conflict. The events surrounding this lion continue to be studied and remembered due to its unusual behavior and the scale of its attacks.
The Reign of Terror
The Mfuwe man-eater was active for approximately two months in 1991, instigating a series of attacks that caused immense fear throughout the Mfuwe region. The first known incident occurred in August 1991, when two boys were traveling at night; one escaped, but the other was mauled, with only fragments of his skull and clothing remaining. An adult woman became a victim shortly thereafter when the lion broke into her home on the village’s edge.
The attacks continued, with a young boy being set upon while traveling alone at night. Although a game ranger intervened by firing a gun, scaring the lion away, the boy later died from his injuries. The lion’s boldness escalated, culminating in an incident where it dragged a woman named Jesleen from her home and killed her. The following day, the lion returned to her house and took a cloth bag containing her clothing, parading through the village with it.
This specific act, carrying a personal item through the community, intensified local beliefs that the lion was not merely an animal but possibly possessed by a demon or sorcerer. In total, the Mfuwe man-eater was responsible for the deaths of six people. The consistent nocturnal attacks and the lion’s audacity created widespread fear, significantly impacting residents’ daily lives as they lacked adequate protection.
The Hunt and Capture
The escalating attacks by the Mfuwe man-eater prompted efforts to track and eliminate the threat. Professional hunter Dale Lewis played a central role in the pursuit of this lion.
Lewis’s hunt for the Mfuwe man-eater extended over approximately three weeks in September 1991. The challenges were considerable, as previous attempts by other hunters and local game wardens had failed to stop the lion’s rampage. The lion’s elusive nature and the fear it generated in the community made the hunt particularly difficult.
Lewis ultimately succeeded in shooting and killing the lion, bringing an end to the period of terror for the Mfuwe residents.
Post-Mortem Discoveries and Theories
After the Mfuwe man-eater was killed, examinations revealed several unusual physical characteristics and health issues. It was a large male Southern African lion, measuring approximately 3.2 meters (10 feet) long and standing 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) tall at the shoulders, with a weight of about 249 kilograms (500 pounds), making it the largest man-eating lion on record. Despite being male, it lacked a prominent mane, which initially led some to believe it was a female lion responsible for the attacks.
Scientific analysis of the lion’s remains, particularly its skull and teeth, provided insights into why it might have turned to man-eating. Post-mortem examination showed the lion suffered from a severe jaw fracture, an injury that would have made it painful and difficult to open its mouth. This condition likely hindered its ability to hunt and bring down typical prey like zebra and buffalo.
Further analysis indicated that the lion avoided consuming the bones of its victims, a behavior consistent with its jaw injury. The prevailing scientific theory suggests that such injuries or dental issues can lead lions to prey on humans, as people are often easier to subdue than large wild animals. The taxidermied remains of the Mfuwe man-eater were donated to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago on September 2, 1998, where they have been on display ever since, alongside the famous Tsavo man-eaters.