Circus lions killed: lions recently freed from circus found with heads and paws cut off - TomoNews

VAALWATER, SOUTH AFRICA — Two lions released from circuses in South America to an animal sanctuary in South Africa were found decapitated this past week, the heads and paws missing. In May 2016, the lions were sent to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, set to live out the remainder of their existence in peace. The male lions, Jose and Liso, were among 33 saved from circuses in Peru and Colombia. Though the sanctuary has 24-hour security measures in place, poachers still managed to enter the premises at night. Once the poachers were in, the animals were hunted, with their heads and paws cut off, and the rest of their bloodied bodies left behind. Some conservationists believe their parts are being used to make potions and charms to be sold in the country’s witchcraft market. With Asian tigers disappearing due to poaching, African lion bones are now being substituted more to brew tonics and traditional healing medicines, according to The Telegraph. There’s no evidence any of these methods actually have any healing properties for humans.