Five suspected poachers entered Kruger National Park in South Africa last week to kill rhino living there, according to authorities.
Only four of the men left alive.
The fifth was killed by an elephant and later "devoured" by a pride of lions, park officials said in a statement.
"Entering Kruger National Park illegally and on foot is not wise, it holds many dangers and this incident is evidence of that," said Glenn Phillips, managing executive of Kruger National Park.
The four alleged poachers who survived were arrested and will appear in court "in due course," the statement said. They will remain in custody until Friday, pending bail, reported Times Live, a South African news site. Authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged poacher's death and accomplices.
Park officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
Police Brig. Leonard Hlathi told Times Live that the elephant attacked "suddenly," killing the man.
"His accomplices claimed to have carried his body to the road so that passersby could find it in the morning," Hlathi said. "They then vanished from the park. "
The suspected poachers called the dead man's family, which then called Don English, regional ranger for Skukuzu - the most popular game reserve in the country. English assured the family that he would "do everything possible" to recover the body, according to the park statement.
A search party, including rangers on foot and a crew with the South African National Parks air wing, scoured the area Wednesday but did not find the man. They resumed their efforts Thursday and found the man's remains in the Crocodile Bridge area of the park, near the Crocodile River.
The area, according to the Kruger National Park website, is known for its high concentration of lion prides. It also houses a larger percentage of the park's rhino population.
All that the lions had left behind of the man was his skull and a pair of pants, authorities said.
In the park statement, Phillips commended the search party for helping the family find closure. He also offered the family his condolences.