Sad very sad

[Yaseen]

https://www.news24.com/Video/SouthA...r-discovers-poisoned-lions-and-tiger-20180525

Devastated predator park owner discovers poisoned lions and tiger
25 May, 04:38 PM




Iavan Pijoos, News24

A Vaalwater predator park owner was distraught to discover four of his beloved big cats were poisoned in the early hours of Friday morning.

Justin Fernandes posted an emotional video on his personal Facebook page showing how he discovered three poisoned lions and a tiger at their Jugomaro Predator Park in Limpopo.

Describing it as the worst nightmare of his life, Fernandes can be seen repeatedly wiping away his tears.

Speaking to camera, Fernandes said they were alerted to trouble at 02:00am on Friday morning when one of their wolves started "barking". While walking around the park, Fernandes saw one of their lions, Elvis biting on the gate.

"I thought his jaw was actually stuck in the gate. We got the got they keys and moved him away. As I moved him away, we saw there was something wrong with this cat."

He said one of the other lions, Kai, was already dead.

Justin Fernandes hand feeds a lion at the Jugomaro Predator Park in Limpopo. (Image: Jugomaro Predator Park)

"While I was busy with Elvis, I heard Taariq and Hercules starting to throw up and we just couldn't get a vet in time to save these cats," he said.

His father, Goosey Fernandes, who spoke to News24 on Friday afternoon said the family kept the big cats in Krugersdorp for two and a half years before they were moved to a farm he purchased in Limpopo.

Goosey said the family has 18 big cats.

He told News24 that perpatrators poisoned his baby golden tiger, a white lion and two of his brown lions.

Kai, Taariq, Elvis and Hercules were all bottle-raised by the family since birth.

Justin and Goosey Fernandes bottle feed Kai, a golden tiger while another lion looks on. (Image: Jugomaro Predator Park)

It was believed that the lions were fed liver laced with the poison Temik, more commonly known as "Two-Step".

According to Health24, one teaspoon of the substance, which is more poisonous than arsenic, is enough to kill a grown rhino.

When asked how the family was doing, Goosey simply replied: "Very bad."

Goosey said his son Justin was loading the lions and tiger in a cold room for them to be buried on Sunday.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Senseless.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Nauseating!

 

[Nyati]

Sad !

 

[jeff]

What could the motive possibly be, personal grudge, competing game park, ex wife or what, it's seems that it would have to be motivated by extreme hatred!

 

[johnnyblues]

Fking bastards. I hate that hearing things like this. Just two minutes I want with them....

 

[cagkt3]

That's terrible to hear...

 

[LivingTheDream]

Just can't understand why someone would do this.

 

[edward]

Fking bastards. I hate that hearing things like this. Just two minutes I want with them....

ill take 5 more if you leave anything.

 

[CAustin]

Senseless.

Plus 1

 

[Dragan N.]

Could be fear. I would guess this park is located in a rural part of South Africa. Now if local people growing up were conditioned to, and justifiably so, fear wild lions this fear may continue on and extend to having a park that keeps domestic lions close to your home...

 

[flatwater bill]

It does not seem like it would be too difficult to find the perps in this case. They would live close by and likely have some poison residue at their homes. Still, there may not be an NCIS equivalent locally. Dragon.........you bring up a valid point...........I have heard of primitive people thinking that lions harbored the souls or spirits of shaman or dead relatives. Who knows what (if anything) was in the mind of the idiots who did this.......................FWB

 

[Dragan N.]

It does not seem like it would be too difficult to find the perps in this case. They would live close by and likely have some poison residue at their homes. Still, there may not be an NCIS equivalent locally. Dragon.........you bring up a valid point...........I have heard of primitive people thinking that lions harbored the souls or spirits of shaman or dead relatives. Who knows what (if anything) was in the mind of the idiots who did this.......................FWB

I am not familiar with this poison but the article states that is extremely potent- a small amount can kill a rhino. So I don't think at least that people would leave residue of it laying around their house as it could easily kill them. Secondly this poison may be commonly used to kill pest species i.e. servals, baboons, honey badgers or the like. So just having the poison wouldn't establish that person(s) did this. So id think it would actually be quite difficult to catch the perp...

Yeah I mean given the trouble this person(s) went through to do this would to me indicate there was a strong motive present. Either vengeance, fear or maybe they wanted the lions dead to sell them to asia or something. While possible, I think its highly unlikely somebody did this just for the "hell of it"...

 

[flatwater bill]

I suspect you are right on that...........there probably would not be a 2 liter coke bottle with a couple of X's on it lying around. But it was bought, mixed, or acquired somehow. It is often this chain that is difficult to keep secret...........if anyone is investigating. Would love to see them caught and given to Johnny.........................FWB

 

[Hogpatrol]

SMH, What's the point? Poison three and there's still many more remaining? I wonder if the bones of the lions are the ultimate goal. I hope they bury them in the same area as where there others are kept. Maybe poetic justice will prevail.

 

[spekieries]

The same poison used in residential areas and on farms (Farm attack) to get rid of guard dogs on private property. The nick name "two step" literally means the animal give two steps before it dies.

 

[spekieries]

I just read up on Temik. It is a pesticide which is cheaply sold on the "black market "in RSA. Easy to obtain therefore it has become the weapon of choice against weary canines or then lion.

 

[dsmerrills]

I just read up on Temik. It is a pesticide which is cheaply sold on the "black market "in RSA. Easy to obtain therefore it has become the weapon of choice against weary canines or then lion.

It's a favourite in South Africa for house robbers they mix 2 step (Temik) with meat and poison pets (especially if one has big dogs) before a robbery takes place.

Very sad but true!

 

[FLhunter7]

They said it was poachers in the news but the news isn't the most trustworthy thing.

 

[Hogpatrol]

They said it was poachers in the news but the news isn't the most trustworthy thing.

That makes sense. I've heard that a lion's bones are worth more on the black market than the cost of a lion hunted.