[WATCH] Heartbreaking burial for “murdered” lions
The family had to burn the bodies of the lions to prevent poachers digging up their remains.
Justin Fernandes, the manager of Jugomaro Predator Park SA, which used to be in Oaktree, Krugersdorp, has uploaded another video, showing where the lions that were poisoned last week were buried.
In the video, the four lions Kai, Taariq, Hercules, and Elvis, can be seen. The group burned the lions’ bodies to prevent grave robbers from digging up their bodies and using their parts for muthi.
Photo: Facebook.
Read initial article here: BREAKING NEWS: Watch a park ranger crying heartbrokenly about poisoned lions
In the video, Justin kneels before the graves of his beloved cats and cries. Family and friends of the family who raised these lions also attended the burial.
“May they never be disturbed again,” Justin is heard saying.
Maxine, Justin’s sister said, “Unfortunately the people who did this to our animals knew exactly what they wanted. And unfortunately Kai was just collateral damage. For those of you overseas who don’t know, these animals get killed for their body parts, which are sold for ridiculous amounts of money for traditional uses. It’s not fair, they didn’t deserve it. We watched them suffer. It was an awful way for these animals to die. I just hope that this tragedy will raise the public’s awareness of the way people behave.”
https://www.facebook.com/justin.t.fernandes/videos/1937116669634844/
Justin said some of the people who attended the burial drove over 300 kms to be there.
Rosa Fernandes, Justin’s mother, said that Krugersdorp was not the ideal place for the lions, but they were safe here.
“And it makes us wonder why we left Krugersdorp, because we really did feel safe there. I feel so guilty because I brought them here to die. We never thought that this cat cemetery would fill up so quickly.
Photo: Facebook.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Love you all so much,” said Rosa.
The family is hosting a fundraiser to make their park safer for the rest of the big cats. For more information, visit Justin’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/justin.t.fernandes.
To make a donation to the park, use the following banking details:
Account Name: Maxine Fernandes
Bank: ABSA, Savings account
Branch: Springs 1560
Branch code: 632005
Account Number : 9171806809
SWIFT code: ABSAZAJJ
SMS proof: 0825580703
PayPal: jugomaro21@hotmail.com
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