News / National
Lions are being killed by poachers in Zimbabwe
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A disturbing poaching tragedy has rocked the quiet tourist town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, after an adult male lion was found caught in a deadly snare. Although injured, the lion was darted, treated, and released back into the wild. However, nearby lay a far more gruesome sight: the mutilated remains of his lioness partner.
The lioness's body was discovered with flesh stripped from her bones and her head and paws brutally hacked off. She leaves behind two four-year-old cubs and three vulnerable nine-month-old cubs, who must now face the harsh wilderness alone. Without their mother's protection, the young cubs' survival chances are perilously low, and the tiny cubs are particularly exposed to further poaching threats.
Local conservationists who made the grim discovery quickly alerted Zimbabwean wildlife authorities and the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU), a partner organisation dedicated to combating poaching in the region. The incident underscores a worrying rise in poaching across Zimbabwe, with lions increasingly targeted by ruthless criminals who kill them for their body parts.
Lion paws, teeth, and bones are especially prized in illegal wildlife markets, often sold as fake medicinal cures or status symbols in Asia. For poachers operating in Zimbabwe's wilderness, slaughtering these majestic animals and mutilating their bodies has become a ruthless means of quick profit.
One of the most effective ways to combat poaching is through advanced AI-powered technology. AI-enabled camera traps can detect human movement in real-time and immediately alert anti-poaching units. This allows swift deployment of patrol teams to intercept poachers before they can set snares or kill animals.
Currently, VFAPU operates four such camera traps, which have already made a significant impact this year by removing 97 snares, detecting 49 poaching attempts, arresting 11 poachers, and rescuing six animals trapped in snares. Those arrested could face up to nine years in prison if convicted.
However, four camera traps are insufficient to cover the vast area VFAPU patrols — 124,000 acres (50,000 hectares). The urgent need is to install at least ten more camera traps to keep up with the escalating poaching threat.
Each camera trap costs around $400 (£312) to install, and additional support is critical to expand this protective network. With more traps, more lions and other wildlife can be safeguarded, and more poachers can be caught and prosecuted.
Lions in Zimbabwe currently face grave danger from poachers, but with increased community support and investment in cutting-edge technology, there is hope to protect these iconic animals from further cruelty and loss. The recent tragedy in Victoria Falls serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to safeguard Zimbabwe's wildlife heritage.
The lioness's body was discovered with flesh stripped from her bones and her head and paws brutally hacked off. She leaves behind two four-year-old cubs and three vulnerable nine-month-old cubs, who must now face the harsh wilderness alone. Without their mother's protection, the young cubs' survival chances are perilously low, and the tiny cubs are particularly exposed to further poaching threats.
Local conservationists who made the grim discovery quickly alerted Zimbabwean wildlife authorities and the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU), a partner organisation dedicated to combating poaching in the region. The incident underscores a worrying rise in poaching across Zimbabwe, with lions increasingly targeted by ruthless criminals who kill them for their body parts.
Lion paws, teeth, and bones are especially prized in illegal wildlife markets, often sold as fake medicinal cures or status symbols in Asia. For poachers operating in Zimbabwe's wilderness, slaughtering these majestic animals and mutilating their bodies has become a ruthless means of quick profit.
One of the most effective ways to combat poaching is through advanced AI-powered technology. AI-enabled camera traps can detect human movement in real-time and immediately alert anti-poaching units. This allows swift deployment of patrol teams to intercept poachers before they can set snares or kill animals.
Currently, VFAPU operates four such camera traps, which have already made a significant impact this year by removing 97 snares, detecting 49 poaching attempts, arresting 11 poachers, and rescuing six animals trapped in snares. Those arrested could face up to nine years in prison if convicted.
However, four camera traps are insufficient to cover the vast area VFAPU patrols — 124,000 acres (50,000 hectares). The urgent need is to install at least ten more camera traps to keep up with the escalating poaching threat.
Each camera trap costs around $400 (£312) to install, and additional support is critical to expand this protective network. With more traps, more lions and other wildlife can be safeguarded, and more poachers can be caught and prosecuted.
Lions in Zimbabwe currently face grave danger from poachers, but with increased community support and investment in cutting-edge technology, there is hope to protect these iconic animals from further cruelty and loss. The recent tragedy in Victoria Falls serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to safeguard Zimbabwe's wildlife heritage.
Source - Animal Survival
