Rangers find 3 lions killed with heads and paws removed at Hwange National Park

HARARE
–
Three
lions
were
killed
and
had
their
paws
and
heads
removed
at
Hwange
National
Park
on
Monday
night,
officials
said.

Officials
from
the
department
of
parks
and
wildlife
believe
the
killings
were
for
ritual
purposes.

Parks
spokesman
Tinashe
Farawo
said:
“Our
rangers
discovered
the
carcasses
of
three
lions
on
Tuesday
morning
–
two
females
and
one
subadult
male.

“On
Sunday,
these
lions
were
seen
hunting
a
zebra.
They
spent
Sunday
and
Monday
feeding.
We
believe
they
were
killed
sometime
on
Monday
night
by
poachers
who
also
chopped
off
and
removed
their
heads
and
paws.”

Farawo
said
a
high
calibre
rifle
had
been
used
to
kill
the
animals.

Lions
are
mainly
targeted
by
trophy
hunters,
but
conservationists
also
say
there
are
ritualistic
killings
taking
place
as
the
king
of
the
jungle
is
seen
as
symbolising
power,
strength
and
nobility.

Trade
in
lion
parts,
although
considered
small,
is
said
to
involve
traditional
healers
who
use
them
in
ritual
practices,
typically
to
help
clients
who
want
to
be
respected
or
feared
in
the
workplace,
family
or
society
in
general.

Hwange
National
Park,
Zimbabwe’s
biggest
game
reserve
stretching
for
some
14,600
square
kilometers,
is
home
to
at
least
500
lions.

In
the
four
years
between
2019
and
2023,
Farawo
said
19
lions
had
been
killed
by
poachers
inside
the
park.