Hyena attacks, decapitates Tunduru old woman

Mwanabibi Yusufu from Imani village in Lukumbule Division was attacked and killed by the hyena when she was sleeping in her mud house on February 28.

Reports say that the beast went into the deceased’s house which had no doors and is located near farms that are close to Mwambesi Forest Reserve.

Lukumbule Division Officer, Geoffrey Manyahi confirmed the incident, saying that it happened when the old woman was sleeping along after her husband had gone to look for food in another village.

Manyahi said that after the attack the hyena seemingly dragged the woman’s body into a fire which was close to where she was sleeping.

“When we arrived at the scene of the incident we found the woman’s headless body was burnt, this is what made us believe that after attacking the woman, the hyena dragged her into the fire,”he said.

Tunduru District’s Acting Medical Officer Dr Zabroni Baraka Mmari also confirmed that the cause of death was an attack by a wild animal.

District’s Land and Natural Resources Officer, Jafeth Mnyagala said wildlife officials have already been dispatched to the area to look for the hyena.

Ruvuma Regional Police Commander, Zuberi Mwombeji confirmed the incident, saying that police were still investigating the matter.

The RPC urged people in the area to be vigilant in the wake of increasing attacks by wild animals, especially hyenas, in the southern parts of Tanzania.

People in the area expressed concern and pointed out that it is not common for wild animals, especially hyenas, to attack human beings, noting that hyenas, for example, are known to feed on carcasses instead of hunt.