Rangers discover dead, skinned, and headless lion in Victoria Falls

 THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has raised serious concerns over rising cases of lion poaching in the country following the discovery of a dead lion in Victoria Falls.

The animal had been skinned, with its claws and head missing.
In a statement on Friday, ZimParks reported that a team from the Vic Falls Wildlife Trust was tracking a collared lion when they detected a stationary signal. Upon further investigation, they discovered the dead animal, along with another lion that had been caught in a snare but was still alive.
“With the assistance of veterinary doctors, the second lion, an adult male, was successfully treated and rescued from the snare,” said ZimParks.
Following the incident, a report has been filed with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and ZimParks’ investigations team is working closely with law enforcement authorities.
“We are deeply concerned about the increasing cases of lion poaching, and we will continue collaborating with the police and conservation partners to combat this issue. Our rangers in Zambezi, along with anti-poaching units in Victoria Falls, are actively conducting snare-sweeping patrols in the surrounding areas to protect wildlife.
We remain committed to addressing this critical problem and will provide updates as new developments arise,” said ZimParks.
In a report from October last year, Down to Earth cited wildlife conservation groups indicating that lion bones are in high demand in Asian countries such as China and Vietnam, where they are used in unscientific traditional medicine.
In Vietnam, 89 per cent of people believe in the effects of products made from tigers and lions, despite research showing no real medicinal benefits, according to World Animal Protection.
“Of those who consume these products in Vietnam, almost nine out of 10 prefer big cat products from animals caught in the wild rather than farmed,” the report states.
The report also noted that in China, more than two out of five people surveyed had used drugs or health products containing big cat derivatives, while over half of Chinese consumers preferred their big cat products to be sourced from the wild.

Source: Rangers discover dead, skinned, and headless lion in Victoria Falls

 (07/03/2025)