Stalking Tanzania's Man-Eating Lions Nature's most efficient predators are hunting down the people of southern Tanzania. These cats are cunning, hungry, and—some believe—not of this world. Photograph by Ami Vitale
A Tanzanian woman walks from her field near sunset in the village of Mnolela. Lion attacks on people increased dramatically in the past 15 years—with more than 800 incidents resulting in 563 deaths and at least 308 injuries during that time—but almost half of those cases occurred in six coastal districts.
As bad as the conflict is for people, it's worse for lions. Panthera leo once roamed the entire African continent, but retaliations for killing people and livestock has eliminated it completely from North Africa. Only relic populations remain in West and central Africa. The remaining 40,000 or so lions—half of which reside in Tanzania—continue to be slaughtered. —Contributing Photographer Ami Vitale
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