Wildlife rescue organisation Saving the Survivors (STS) found three lions in central Mozambique caught in gin traps on July 26.
A gin trap is a mechanical device designed to catch an animal by the leg or head using spring operated jaws, usually with a serrated edge or teeth. These traps inflict severe pain and traumatic injuries.
The lions, one female and two males, were sighted dragging the traps and had sustained severe injuries.
The STS team sprang into action and mobilised a helicopter to locate the animals. One male was collared and could be tracked by satellite, while teams on the ground searched for the remaining two.
The uncollared male and female were located, and the team were able to tend to their injuries on August 1. ‘Despite both having Gin traps attached, they were in surprisingly good shape. The Rangers told us that they had witnessed the rest of the Pride bringing them food and licking their wounds, thankfully, the pride had kept these 2 alive long enough for Dr. Joao to get there!’ STS wrote on Facebook.
‘The male had a trap on his rear leg and the female, one on her front paw. Sadly, due to the brutality of these traps, both had to have their affected paws amputated, but Dr. Joao was able to successfully treat and close both wounds,’ STS added.
*** UPDATE ON THE 3 INJURED LIONS ***
{⚠️WARNING – GRAPHIC IMAGES OF OUR WORK!⚠️}
Dr. Joao flew in to the area where…
Posted by Saving The Survivors on Friday, 31 July 2020
The search for the third lion continued, and he was found in a remote location, ‘where monitoring for security and post treatment recovery would be near impossible.’ The team had to relocate the big cat for treatment.
‘We airlifted the sleeping casualty to a Boma 25 km away where he could be treated. We will post full details of his treatment later today when Dr. Joao has filed his final report,’ STS wrote on Sunday, July 2.
Once at the Boma, Dr. Joao operated on the big cat in the back of the 4X4, surgically amputating 4 toes, leaving him with 1 claw on the effected paw. Despite the severity of the gin trap wounds, the prognosis for recovery is good in all 3 of these Lions.’
The lion was moved via helicopter.
Almost too large to fit!
After his surgery, the lion was bandaged and will now begin the road to recovery.
‘Our work is 100% funded by donations, Due to the 3rd Lion having to be airlifted and the extra drugs involved, this particular mission cost well in excess of what we originally raised. Please support this mission and all our work saving the survivors of poaching and creating hope from hurt for Africa’s wildlife,’ wrote STS.
STS is a non-profit organisation working hard to rescue, treat and protect wild animals that have fallen victim to poaching or have experienced trauma in any way. To learn more, get involved or donate, visit here.
Image credit: Facebook/Saving the Survivors
