Attacks

The incidents occurred in 2003. A spotted hyena was reportedly infected with the rabies virus and began displaying the typically concerning symptoms of the disease, soon developing into a more deranged and deadly beast. After being seen near the central Dowa district, at least 4,000 people fled from the area (and from at least four nearby villages) to seek refuge at a community hall located inside the district headquarters. The hyena would terrorize several heavily populated areas; attack survivors would bear life-altering injuries and serious disfigurement, ranging from hands being chewed off to losing their ears, eyes, fingers, toes and feet during their respective struggles, in addition to various bite wounds and scratches. One woman reportedly had her lips and nose bitten off by the animal.

One local eyewitness reported a similar 2002 incident, stating that the attacks in 2003 mirrored a previous case of a rabid spotted hyena—one that had displayed similarly concerning behaviors. This hyena was ultimately responsible for the deaths of five people, and the maiming of at least 20 more. Wildlife officials positively identified the beast as a rabid spotted hyena, at which time it was tracked, located and shot by game rangers and paramilitary police; killing the hyena was for the public’s immediate safety as well as to put the hyena out of its own misery.^[1]