A big cat poacher has reportedly been killed and eaten by the pride of lions he was trying to hunt.

The suspected hunter was heard screaming for help as he was mauled and bitten to death by lions in the Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve in Hoespruit, near Phalaborwa in South Africa.

The pride were unhurt and it looks as though they saved themselves from the unfortunate fate of Cecil the Lion and his son Xanda, who were both shot dead in South Africa.

Authorities presume the man was hunting the lions, who left his head almost untouched, after a hunting rifle was found close to what was left of his body.

[link to ca.news.yahoo.com (secure)]