How Many People Did the Tsavo Man-Eating Lions Kill

The Tsavo man-eating lions are one of the most infamous predators in history, and for good reason - they killed a staggering number of people.

Between 1898 and 1900, the two lions, later known as the "Tsavo Man-Eaters", were responsible for the deaths of 28 people.

The exact number of victims is difficult to determine due to incomplete records, but 28 is the most widely accepted figure.

The lions' reign of terror lasted for nearly two years, during which time they preyed on unsuspecting workers building the Kenya-Uganda Railway.

Consider reading: Rhodesian Ridgeback Hunt Lions

The Tsavo lions were a pair of male lions that terrorized a workforce building the Tsavo River bridge in 1898. They were unusually bold and aggressive, dragging workers from their tents and devouring them during daylight.

These lions were larger than most others in the region and lacked manes. They were also healthy, which puzzled many as attacks by lions are typically rare and usually occur when lions are old or injured.

If this caught your attention, see: Are Lions the Only Cats That Live in Groups?

The lions' attacks continued for months, with workers trying various tactics to protect themselves, including setting up thorn barriers and lighting large fires at night. However, the lions persisted, killing an estimated 35 to 135 men.

The psychological toll of the lions' attacks was undeniable, and the workforce was gripped with fear. The British colonial support eventually arrived with reinforcements to hunt and kill the lions.

Here are the estimated number of people killed by the Tsavo lions:

The lions' behavior was so unusual that it was a subject of debate. According to Bruce Patterson, the lions may have started hunting men for one or more of the following reasons:

The Tsavo lions' attacks on workers began in March 1898, when two unusually bold and aggressive lions started dragging workers from their tents during daylight.

These lions, larger than most others in the region, lacked manes and seemed to defy every attempt to drive them away.

Workers tried various tactics to protect themselves, including setting up thorn barriers around their tents and lighting large fires at night, but the lions continued to strike.

The lions appeared to be healthy, and their aggressive behavior puzzled many, as attacks by lions are typically rare and usually occur when lions are either old or injured.

In about nine months, the man-eaters of Tsavo killed an estimated 35 to 135 men, although the exact number is still debated today.

The psychological toll of the attacks on the workforce was undeniable, and work on the railway slowed to a crawl as workers either fled or refused to continue.

The region of Tsavo is now home to two large national parks – Tsavo East and Tsavo West. The area was a hub for the construction of the railway, which brought in workers from British India.

The railway was being built across the Tsavo River, where the attacks by the man-eating lions took place. The lions' behavior was unusual, as they attacked during daylight and targeted humans rather than livestock.

The lions' attacks continued for months, causing fear and disrupting work on the railway.

Tsavo is located in a region that's now home to two large national parks – Tsavo East and Tsavo West.

The region has been transformed into a protected area with these two national parks at its core.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Police Kill Two Dogs

In December 1898, Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson killed the man-eating lions of Tsavo.

The first lion was killed on 9 December 1898.

The second lion was killed after 20 days.