WARNING! Some of the images below are not suitable for young audiences and readers who are easily distressed.
South Authorities have released horrible images of 5 lions that were killed by poachers who had their body parts hacked off.
Lions are killed for their body parts, which are sold to people in Asia, who use them for traditional healing and sometimes black magic.
The owner of the Sunward Ranch in South Africa found 1 lion and 4 lionesses dead at the ranch.
Menno Parsons, the owner of the ranch, found the 5 lions without their paws and parts of their heads.
It is believed that poachers gave the 5 lions poisoned chicken.
The Sunward Ranch is protected by electric fences.
Authorities believe that the poachers chucked the poisoned chickens over the fence and waited while the lions suffered to death.
After the lions died, the poachers cut through the fences and hacked the bodies of the lions with machetes.
The poachers took the jaws and the paws of the lions.
Parsons, the owner of the ranch, released a statement about the incident.
Mr. Parsons said, “When you get the phone call telling you that your lions have not just been killed by poachers but have been butchered, I tell you nothing prepares you.”
The grieving added, “I fly helicopters on anti-poaching patrols and go after poachers who are on the run to help out the police and security agencies, but you never actually expect it is going to happen to you.”
Mr. Parsons continued, “I have looked after lions for 10 years and they are like a family to me. I am not afraid of these poachers and I have got guys with me and we will be going out there looking for them.”
Motlafela Mojapelo, a Brigadier of the South African police and a spokesperson, said the fences were cut to gain entry after the lions were fed with chicken carcasses that were laced with poison.
Brigadier Mojapelo added, “The lions were discovered at 8 am on Wednesday and some of them were found decapitated and some had their paws cut off and their jaws and teeth removed.”
An official investigation has been launched for the incident.
Since October, this has been the 3 attacks on lions.
In a similar event, 4 lions were butchered at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria last month. Their paws and jaws were also removed for the same reasons.