In South Africa, thousands of lions are raised on farms with an aberrant purpose: to free them and make them prey for trophy hunters or use them to take their bones, highly sought after in some parts of the world where they are used in cooking or as medicines. A shocking report revealed yet another cruelty to animals.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
In South Africa thousands of leoni are bred on farms with an aberrant purpose: to free them and make them prey of trophy hunters or use them to take the bones, very popular in some parts of the world where they are used in the kitchen or as medicines. A shocking report revealed yet another cruelty to animals.
The sad fate of lions in South Africa was revealed in a year-long study by British politician Michael Ashcroft (Lord Ashcroft). The survey shows how a very high number of lions (about 12 thousand) are bred in captivity to be then destined to become hunting trophies of rich men, often of American nationality but also citizens of the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
These unscrupulous people are willing to pay up to 42 barren in order to slaughter a lion. Basically it works like this: wealthy customers are sent brochures with photographs of male lions via WhatsApp, so they can choose which one to kill. Prices range from £ 10.000 to £ 42.300 per lion and depend on the size and quality of the mane.
The report also posted horrific videos of tourists shooting lions with tranquilizer darts during an illegal hunt. These people, among other things, may not even be aware that the hunted animals were specially bred, which makes it all the more incorrect.
But what the report found doesn't end there: the big cats are also exploited in other ways. How? They are slaughtered and used to make alternative medicines that are very popular in some areas of the Far East. In particular, the bones of these animals are requested, which in Vietnam, Thailand and Laos are then boiled and also used in cooking.
According to the study, about 50 lions were killed on an "eco-farm" and turned into "drugs" in just two days. Moreover the animals would be kept in very small cages and forced to endure terrible living conditions before being killed. The macabre images first show the coveted lion bones and then the insides of the animals considered scraps and piled up in black plastic bags waiting to be disposed of.
Finally, there is a suspicion that, in an effort to maximize profits, breeders in South Africa cross lions with certain breeds of tigers to create hybrid offspring. The abusive process, which can lead to birth defects and premature death of the puppies, increases the weight of the bones, making breeders more money.
In all this, the investigation also revealed the complicity of Great Britain in the breeding of lions. A group of undercover investigators, including some former special forces soldiers, have revealed how UK hunters and middlemen are involved in this very despicable type of trade.
Lord Ashcroft finally accused the British government of being complicit in such barbarism due to the failure to ban the importation of trophies.
We never cease to be amazed at the levels that human cruelty can reach ...
Read also:
- Lions bred in South Africa to become ingredients for sweets, wine and medicines
- The terrifying and shocking footage of a hunter shooting a sleeping lion
- Trophy hunter kills rare elephant with large tusks
