A hyena entered a family home in Rumbek North County in Lakes State during heavy rain, killing a goat and a calf and injuring two boys before villagers killed the animal, local authorities and medical officials said on Wednesday.
The attack occurred on Tuesday night in Aliet village, Madhol Boma, Malueth Payam, in Rumbek North County, where families commonly shelter livestock inside their homes at night.
Akol Aterbai, the mother of the injured boys, said the hyena entered the house while the family was asleep.
“The hyena bit my two children, a goat and a calf that were inside the house,” she told Radio Tamazuj. “We cried for help and neighbours rushed to our rescue.”
She said villagers killed the animal inside the house after it attacked the family.
The two injured boys were initially taken to Maper Primary Health Care Centre before being referred to Rumbek State Hospital.
Dr. Terran Madit Terran, the hospital’s medical director, confirmed that the facility had admitted two patients with injuries consistent with hyena bites.
“One patient sustained a bite to the right thigh, while the other suffered bites to the left thigh and left arm,” he said. “Both are in stable condition and are receiving antibiotics, wound care and other treatment.”
Terran said one of the boys, aged about 13 or 14, also sustained an arm fracture during the attack.
Rumbek North County Commissioner Moses Maker Magok said the hyena entered the house during heavy rain, where children and livestock were sheltering together.
“When the hyena entered the house, one of the men inside stabbed it with a spear,” Magok said. “The animal then turned on the occupants, injuring two boys before villagers arrived and killed it.”
He said county authorities helped evacuate the injured for medical treatment and urged residents to take additional precautions to protect children and livestock, noting an increase in sightings of hyenas near villages.
Brigadier General Mading Amuor Adut, the acting director of wildlife in Lakes State, said residents are permitted to kill dangerous wild animals in self-defence but must report such incidents to wildlife authorities for investigation.
“If a hyena attacks people or livestock and is killed in self-defence, the incident should be reported so wildlife officers can inspect the scene and establish what happened,” he said.
Adut said South Sudan’s Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act does not provide compensation for injuries, deaths or livestock losses caused by wild animals, leaving affected families responsible for medical and other costs.
Hyenas are widespread across South Sudan and occasionally attack livestock in rural communities. Attacks on people are less common but have been reported in areas bordering wildlife habitats.
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