Reports of a “rampaging beast” in the Dowa
district, about 100 km from the capital Lilongwe, has sent at least 4,000
people fleeing four villages to seek refuge at a community hall at the
district headquarters. Parks and Wildlife Officer Leonard Sefu said his
department believed the mysterious beast could be a rabid hyena but said
it was strange for a hyena to terrorise whole villages without being cornered.
Dr Matius Joshua, the Dowa District Health Officer said that two old women
and a three-year-old baby died when the beast crushed their skulls and
ate their intestines and private parts. He said his department was examining
the maimed people to establish what the animal could be. All efforts
to shoot and kill the animal have so far failed. Dr Joshua said the 16
victims admitted into hospital following the latest attacks sustained
various appalling injuries – some of them lost both legs and hands while
two have lost both ears and eyes to the beast. One woman lost her mouth
and nose.

Source: BBC News