By A Correspondent

Three lions were discovered decapitated in Hwange National Park, prompting the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to launch an investigation into possible poaching.

According to Tinashe Farawo, a spokesman for ZimParks, the lions had their heads and feet amputated.

“The suspects used a heavy calibre rifle before they chopped the lions’ heads and feet, and we are looking into a possible case of lion poaching in Hwange,” he stated.

Zimbabwe has been battling poaching for years, and ZimParks reports that things have gotten better.

With a US$5 million anti-poaching budget, the Authority has been successful, particularly in the Hwange-Matetsi block.

However, more than 420 Big Five animals have been killed by poachers since 2019, according to some reports, costing the nation nearly US$8 million.

In the past five years, 422 elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, and buffalos worth about US$7,786,000 have been killed, according to ZimParks’ most recent statistics.