Lions, hyenas poisoned in Kunene
After the lion’s collar stopped sending its signal on Friday, officials from the environment ministry made a gruesome discovery – the lion, dead, buried under stones.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
A man was arrested on Sunday after he confessed to poisoning four lions and two hyenas in the Ehirovipuka conservancy in the Kunene Region.
Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed this, adding that the suspect - who was arrested on Sunday afternoon - hails from the conservancy.
The reason for the poisoning of the animals is still unknown.
According to Muyunda, officials from the ministry discovered the carcass of a collared male lion on Friday at the Otjomapenda cattle post near Palmfontein in Ehirovipuka.
“The lion was buried with stones and had been poisoned.”
Muyunda said ministry staff realised that the collar of the lion had stopped sending a signal and responded promptly by conducting a search.
“The operation led to this gruesome discovery at around 18h00. The police were informed. A further search led to the discovery of three more lions and two hyenas on Saturday in the same area.”
A search operation in the area is ongoing to see if there are more carcasses.
The number of killed animals might increase, Muyunda said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
A man was arrested on Sunday after he confessed to poisoning four lions and two hyenas in the Ehirovipuka conservancy in the Kunene Region.
Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed this, adding that the suspect - who was arrested on Sunday afternoon - hails from the conservancy.
The reason for the poisoning of the animals is still unknown.
According to Muyunda, officials from the ministry discovered the carcass of a collared male lion on Friday at the Otjomapenda cattle post near Palmfontein in Ehirovipuka.
“The lion was buried with stones and had been poisoned.”
Muyunda said ministry staff realised that the collar of the lion had stopped sending a signal and responded promptly by conducting a search.
“The operation led to this gruesome discovery at around 18h00. The police were informed. A further search led to the discovery of three more lions and two hyenas on Saturday in the same area.”
A search operation in the area is ongoing to see if there are more carcasses.
The number of killed animals might increase, Muyunda said.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article