Poison Poaching

[Lisbeth]

2018-04-16 08:30



Kampala — A pride of lions has been killed by suspected poisoning in one of Uganda's major protected areas.

Eleven lions were found dead in the popular Queen Elizabeth National Park, says Jossy Muhangi, a spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The deaths are a "big blow" to the park, which depends heavily "on promises to tourists that they are likely to see lions," he says.

The park in the country's south-west has about 200 lions, including a group of rare tree-climbing ones.

Ugandan wildlife officials have long called for the eviction of communities within the park's boundaries, leading to conflicts between herdsmen and wild animals.

The dead lions are believed to have been poisoned after attacking livestock.

Tourism is a major source of revenue for Uganda's government, which lists mountain gorillas and the big cats among the country's top safari attractions.

Source: http://www.traveller24.com/Explore/Gree ... ntsSection

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Ugandan wildlife officials have long called for the eviction of communities within the park's boundaries, leading to conflicts between herdsmen and wild animals.

[nan]

I was in Queen Elizabeth National Park
I didn't see a lot of inhabitant there and not a lot of Lions as well

[Flutterby]

Yesterday 4 big cats (3 lions and 1 tiger) were poisoned at Jugomaro Predator Park, which is run by Justin Fernandez. This was posted on their FB page yesterday along with an emotional video which ended in a plea for assistance.
‎

Jugomaro Predator Park SA 2.0 added 15 new photos — with Louise Reed.
22 hrs ·
Our beautiful boys, Kai, Elvis, Hercules and Taariq suffered a very painful death, we were able to be with them till their last breath, they bit onto the fences in pain the poison used is deadly, Justin gave Elvis mouth to mouth, I tried to CPR , we tried so hard to save them... my cats were murdered for nothing!! Thankfully they were not mutilated as we disturbed the assholes!!! Please pray we find these murders. RIP MY BABIES, You gave us so much joy, so much to live for... love you always, till we meet again.

The following has now been posted by Expose Illegal Trapping and Scum Sanctuaries:

Stefania Falcon‎ to Expose Illegal Trapping and Scum Sanctuaries
8 hrs
WARNING: You might have read the terrible news of four big cats, three lions and a tiger, who were poisoned in a big cat park yesterday.
We are devastated and upset about the tragic end of the poor cats in the care of Justin Fernandez at Jugomaro Park, South Africa but we also want to alert the public that the circumstances of the killing are not clear yet and we suggest to avoid donating at this stage.
In some articles Justin Fernandez has been described as a “park ranger” but he is an unqualified big cat trainer who has collected in the years about 20 allegedly abandoned/rejected big cats he has then used for promoting shows, displays, public interaction, petting, for advertising and for top model shooting, to make a living out of it.
This kind of practice has been proven to be detrimental to big cats conservation.
Fernandez has been in financial desperate need several times and was forced to move location in a few occasions. He has also lost animals in accidents related to their translocation.
We have been informed of other animals who have died under his care.
We attach the links in the comments below.
A connection of the Fernandez with farmers involved in the captive lion breeding industry has also been suggested.
The whole family has been going through financial problems for years while another member of the family, Augusto Fernandez, has been taken to court for illegally possessing a weapon arsenal.
We are very concerned about the fate of the remaining animals in the care of the Fernandez.
We discourage you to support this family and their business by sending Justin any money through the bank accounts he has indicated, until circumstances have been clarified.

[Richprins]

Falcon had better have her facts straight.

[Lisbeth]

If she did not, I do not think that she would make them public, it is too risky

[Lisbeth]

phpBB [video]

25 May, 04:38 PM
Iavan Pijoos, News24

A Vaalwater predator park owner was distraught to discover four of his beloved big cats were poisoned in the early hours of Friday morning.

Justin Fernandes posted an emotional video on his personal Facebook page showing how he discovered three poisoned lions and a tiger at their Jugomaro Predator Park in Limpopo.

Describing it as the worst nightmare of his life, Fernandes can be seen repeatedly wiping away his tears.

Speaking to camera, Fernandes said they were alerted to trouble at 02:00am on Friday morning when one of their wolves started "barking". While walking around the park, Fernandes saw one of their lions, Elvis biting on the gate.

"I thought his jaw was actually stuck in the gate. We got the got they keys and moved him away. As I moved him away, we saw there was something wrong with this cat."

He said one of the other lions, Kai, was already dead.


Justin Fernandes hand feeds a lion at the Jugomaro Predator Park in Limpopo. (Image: Jugomaro Predator Park)

"While I was busy with Elvis, I heard Taariq and Hercules starting to throw up and we just couldn't get a vet in time to save these cats," he said.

His father, Goosey Fernandes, who spoke to News24 on Friday afternoon said the family kept the big cats in Krugersdorp for two and a half years before they were moved to a farm he purchased in Limpopo.

Goosey said the family has 18 big cats.

He told News24 that perpetrators poisoned his baby golden tiger, a white lion and two of his brown lions.

Kai, Taariq, Elvis and Hercules were all bottle-raised by the family since birth.


Justin and Goosey Fernandes bottle feed Kai, a golden tiger while another lion looks on. (Image: Jugomaro Predator Park)

It was believed that the lions were fed liver laced with the poison Temik, more commonly known as "Two-Step".

According to Health24, one teaspoon of the substance, which is more poisonous than arsenic, is enough to kill a grown rhino.

When asked how the family was doing, Goosey simply replied: "Very bad."

Goosey said his son Justin was loading the lions and tiger in a cold room for them to be buried on Sunday.

Limpopo police condemned the resurfacing of "incidents of illegal poaching of protected species".

Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said officers found meat at the scene which may have been laced with a poisonous substance.

"The police investigations including the forensic ones will determine the exact cause of death to these animals. The suspects in this matter are unknown and there is no arrest."


Justin and Goosey Fernandes relax on a couch with a lion from the park. (Image: Jugomaro Predator Park)

[Lisbeth]

The Fernandez are managing to make a show also out of the death of the poor animals


IMO animals supposed to be "Wild Animals" should never be kept like that; only if it is a case of a recovery center and the contact with humans should be minimum, if the animals can be re-introduced in the wild.

[okie]

Hmmmmm..........You know , some time ago , I recall , about 20 / 25 years ago , a guy by the name of Fernandez ( originally ex-Mocambique ) , made the news headlines when a tiger that he was transporting between Pretoria and Witbank to somewhere in Mpumalanga , escaped and made some and caused a fair scare amongst farmers in the area . There was quite a lot of hoo-haa at the time .
Wonder if its the same guy
Or is it just co-incidence