South African police have launched an investigation following an incident that left several lions dead. The lions were beheaded while others were found to have been poisoned.
According to police, three lion carcasses were discovered; two of them were without their heads and paws.
“The lions were found killed on a farm outside Polokwane — two males had their heads and paws cut off and taken away,” provincial police spokesman Motlafela Mojapelo told AFP.
He also added that it seemed that there was a trend as three other similar incidents were recorded in the recent months and that resulted to the death of at least 8 lions.
The poachers “are feeding the lions with poisoned chickens, and that kills them and they start dismembering them.”
So far, no arrests have been made in connection to the string of killings and the motive still remains unclear. Local media speculate the killings could be for the cats’ body parts which are used in so-called traditional medicine.
AFP
