Poison Poaching

[Lisbeth]

I have a big problem with the space they have and the interaction with humans. It is not normal and also dangerous.

[Dzombo]

An interesting read:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44444016

[Lisbeth]

Shocking!

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

In one of Gerald Durrel's books he briefly addresses this issue. He was on a collecting trip in Cameroon and a visitor berated him for depriving animals of their right to freedom and a wonderful life. He took the visitor to watch him clean up a wild monkey that had been brought in, a routine task. After the umpteenth natural parasite had been removed, including a pair of larvae lodged in coin-sized holes on either side of the monkey's tail, the visitor vomited and left...

[Richprins]

Found out that as rhino are becoming more difficult to poach (ie fewer) poachers are turning to increased poison poaching in the bush. This involves entering a wildlife area armed with snares and a bottle of poison. Once an antelope has been caught it or part of it is laced with the poison and left in the open.

Later the poacher returns and salvages whatever has died nearby.

Leopard are the main target, as the skins are bought for Swazi and Zulu heroes as part of the culture. (Other spotted cat skins will also suffice, but cheetah and serval will rarely scavenge.)

If lion fall prey, the four paws are cut off, along with the face. This is for local muthi markets and traditional medicine. The poacher may return much later to collect the rest of the lion bones for the Chinese market.

Other animals including vultures are also taken for muthi purposes.

[Lisbeth]

[Klipspringer]

https://m.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/m ... m-20191121?

Manhunt launched after five lions killed on Northam farm
20:47 21/11/2019 Canny Maphanga
Limpopo police have launched a manhunt after five lions were killed on a farm in the Northam area.

Preliminary investigations suggested the lions might have been fed poison-laced chicken by the suspects who gained entry onto the farm by cutting a fence, according to police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.


"The lions were discovered on Wednesday at about 08:00. Some of them were found decapitated, and some had their paws cut off and teeth removed," Mojapelo said in a statement on Thursday

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Neke Ledwaba, condemned the killing and decapitation of the protected species.


A team of investigators was immediately appointed to track down the suspects.

"As the provincial stock theft awareness and anti-poaching campaigns are unfolding, these poachers must [be] stopped in their tracks and brought to book," Ledwaba said.

[Lisbeth]

Well said Lt. Gen. Ledwaba! Go and get them

[Richprins]

WATCH: Eight lions killed in North West 'poisoning'
2020-01-04 10:46

Nicole McCain

WATCH | Eight lions poisoned in North West, paws hacked off

Eight lions at a North West bush lodge have been killed during an alleged poisoning, police have confirmed. The carcasses were found on Friday morning at the Predators Rock Bush Lodge, near Rustenburg.


Eight lions at a North West bush lodge have been killed during an alleged poisoning, police have confirmed.

The carcasses were found on Friday morning at the Predators Rock Bush Lodge, near Rustenburg.

Their paws and snouts were cut and removed, said police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone.

"A case of illegal hunting has been opened … at Koster Police Station after eight lions were killed at one of the lodges in the vicinity of Swartruggens. It is alleged that the lions were found dead in the morning," said Mokgwabone.

Gert Blom, owner of Predators Rock Bush Lodge, said it appeared the poison was hidden in chicken carcasses.

He added that each lion had been named and that they were "quite tame".

Two male lions and six females, three of which were pregnant, were poisoned.

One of the lionesses had three newborn cubs, two of which also died.

The property is registered as a zoo and, working closely with nature conservation organisations, works to educate the public on wildlife, Blom explained.

Following a poisoning attempt on two white male lions last year, the zoo closed to the public for the safety of the animals, he said.

Predators Rock is also a CITES breeding facility, that aims to improve the numbers of endangered animals and often provides animals to other zoos, Blom added.

Mokgwabone said: "No one has been arrested and investigation into the matter continues."

In 2012, the bush lodge was in the news when a child's finger was bitten off by a Bengal tiger on the property, after she was allegedly told the animals were tame and she could pet them through the fence.

However, this was disputed by Blom at the time, who said there was signage warning visitors not to touch the animals.
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