A family that owns a private lion park at Hartbeespoort is inconsolable over the death of four lions that were poisoned by intruders.
Chameleon Village Lion Park was the home of big cats Thor, Mumford, Isis and Mia for years until they were poisoned with laced chicken on Tuesday night. The eldest lion was 11 years old and the youngest seven.
Hennie Pio, co-owner of the park, was home with his family about 9pm when intruders cut a fence and threw poisoned chicken pieces to the big cats, he said on Thursday.
He said the intruders most likely fled because of the incessant barking of his neighbours’ dogs.
“My wife and I raised them and loved them wholeheartedly. They were our children. In fact, we had them way before we had our child who is three years old. This is painful, I don’t know what I’m feeling, whether I’m angry or heartbroken.
“When my wife met me I was already raising one of them. Our son has become attached to them, I don’t know how to explain where his friends are. It’s tough,” Pio said.