The case against two men suspected of poisoning and killing six lions at the Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park has been postponed in the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court.
“It was postponed for further investigation,” Limpopo endangered species unit’s Sergeant Edwin Ramaoka said, after Michael Simon Madziwire (32) and Collen Jinjika (30) appeared in court in April on a charge of illegal hunting of protected species.
The two are accused of poisoning, killing and mutilating lions at the Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park in June 2018.
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Of the six lions, four were found with their paws and faces cut off.
The wildlife park’s owner, Christa Saayman, said she hoped the men’s trial would start soon and that the two would be sentenced.
She said the two men were unable to get bail during their hearing as their passports were apparently fake.
Saayman has commended Ramaoka’s hard work and dedication to the investigation as he had managed to catch the alleged lion killers within two weeks of being appointed to the case.
The arrest of the two men confirmed Saayman’s initial suspicions of the gruesome poisoning, killing and mutilation of the lions being an “inside job”.
Limpopo police and private security company Hi-Risk Unit launched a manhunt to find the suspects shortly after the attack and a R250 000 reward was offered.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Case of suspected north lion poachers postponed
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