More on the lions that ate rhino poachers...

[MoonRiver]

(I didn't see this posted on the original thread. Sorry if it was.) Anyway, apparently the privately owned rhino reserve put the lion pride there to protect its rhinos. Good job kitties!

A group of rhino poachers were eaten by a pride of lions in Kenton-on-the-Sea, according to the owner of the South African wildlife reserve where the incident happened.

The remains of what appears to be three bodies were discovered on the Simbuya Game Reserve along with high power rifles owner Nick Fox said in a statement. Fox said the poachers’ mangled remains are suspected to have been eaten by a pride of six lions who were on the reservation to protect the endangered and highly targeted rhinos who are hunted for their horns.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pride-lions-killed-ate-group-200757005.html

[Polly Hennessey]

1. Good job, indeed.

[calimary]

2. Karma in this case has claws and teeth.

[MoonRiver]

4. Rhino poaching cowards, with their high powered rifles,

don't stand a chance against stealthy apex predators.

[dubyadiprecession]

57. Too bad it wasn't Eric and Donald junior.

[olegramps]

31. Were the lions properly licensed?

[rocktivity]

82. And are they being paid union scale?

rocktivity

[olegramps]

115. Big thick juicy steaks.

[yuiyoshida]

94. As a gift I would send those lions a few rolls of Tums...

those poachers probably didn't taste very good.

[ashling]

97. Some people say in fact it would be fair to say "Most" people say

that these lions deserve an award from the World Wildlife Federation as well as inclusion in the anti-poaching programs giving them the same elan and authority as legendary K-9 Units in law enforcement and military's the world over ...



as I understand it



Give me an "L",

Give me an "I",

Give me an "O - N - S"

Lions, Lions, You're the BEST! Gooooooooo LIONS!


A little too much? OK, I'll calm down in a minute .... or two

[UTUSN]

3. So the lions are not subject to being put down, hope not?!1

[MoonRiver]

5. Don't think so. They were put there to protect the rhinos.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Good job!

[haele]

13. I doubt it. The lions have probably been socialized with the rangers and the anti-poaching dogs

and will leave them alone...most cats have memory at enough significant degree to be able to recognize who to trust and who might be a threat in different species if they've been socialized.

Sort of like my kitties at home. They all love spouse and me, and to some degree, the grandkids whom they are all now familiar with. But, two are skittish and view all visitors (even if they've seen them before) as threats, one is a love bug and makes a bee-line to any visitor we have unless that visitor reacts badly, and the other, well - she observes. And mets out justice as she sees fit (usually depended on how the love-bug is treated or how we are reacting.)


Ever see a 250 or so pound human against 8 lb. ball of whiplash-quick solid black razor-sharp-edged rage? Even that's not a close contest, the human always loses or must retreat out of the territory that little kitty has marked as hers. Now consider any small number of men against a small group of 300 - 500 lbs. of whiplash quick solid balls of razor-sharp-edged rage that have been quietly hunting them for a half hour or so...even if they're armed...


Haele

[cab67]

58. I hope they're not socialized with the rangers.

I understand the rationale, but for many animals (including wild cats), the error rate for distinguishing friend from foe can be unnervingly large. Domestic cats are saturated in a human environment; wild lions are not.

Many years ago, I read about a stuntman in an action movie who was going to shoot a scene with a leopard. The leopard was fairly tame, and it got very used to the stuntman during rehearsals. But when the stuntman showed up in costume, the leopard stopped playing and started fighting for real. Regardless of scent and training, it saw a stranger encroaching on its space and protected itself.

There's also the issue with personnel turnover among rangers. How will they socialize a new ranger with the lions? And what if a ranger becomes a poacher? (It actually happens - the money from rhino horn can be very, very, very tempting.) Would the lions leave that person alone, even though he means harm?

My concern is actually less with the lions attacking a ranger than with them approaching a stranger for a handout. They may not view ALL strangers as poachers. When that happens, they lose their fear of humans. This never ends well for the lions.

My suspicion is that the lions are trained to respond to certain cues. They may not know a ranger on sight, but know that certain sounds (maybe a whistle) mean "back off." They may also to leave the vehicles used by rangers alone, though parts of the reserve may not be vehicle-accessible.

I could, of course, be completely wrong about this.

And just to add to the chorus - go lions!

[JNelson6563]

107. I wonder if the lions are chipped

I would think tracking the lions and avoiding their immediate area whenever possible could play a big role in the safety strategy.

[MFM008]

112. I want poachers

To worry. Really bad.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

99. ❤️🦁😸 n/t

[BillyBobBrilliant]

6. Right tool

for the right job! Bravo!

[brush]

8. Lions 3, poachers 0. Woohoo!

[Petosky Stone]

9. That's magnificent!

[Kittycow]

10. I hope this serves as ample warning to other scumbag poachers.

If any other poachers decide that they can just do things differently and outsmart the Lions, I hope they also get their just deserts.

That was a very good call to put the Lions there in the first place

[tblue37]

49. At least the lions got their just "desserts" (and main course, too). nt

[lostnfound]

11. This does not break forum rules yet is heinous and reflects poorly on DU

I hate poachers, love rhinos...but cheering when three human beings are eaten by lions is sick, twisted, and what the Romans used to do when they threw Christians to the lions.

I am horrified to see the comments on these posts and we will all be horrified when it gets picked up as indicative of what DU is about.

I understand dark humor but this is really passes the boundary, in my opinion.

[MoonRiver]

14. It's not dark humor. It is reality.

Some decent human beings are trying to protect vulnerable endangered species against sick bastards who only care about their bottom lines. Poachers are now subject to the death penalty in Kenya, because all other means of protecting elephants and rhinos have failed. I don't believe in the dp, but completely understand the logic. At least putting lions on reserves makes it a fairer fight.

[Petosky Stone]

16. "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."

I really have no sympathy for them.

[USALiberal]

17. Not fucking close to the Romans (humans) killing innocent people! Wow, unbelievable. nt

[LanternWaste]

19. Romans also practiced satire. Hence we should deny ourselves that as well?

I think logical fallacies, self-righteousness, and poorly thought out conclusions lacking any evidence to support them reflects poorly on DU as well.

[kiri]

28. so few lions

Let us remember the atheist aphorism.

Oh! So many Christians, so few lions!

[GulfCoast66]

21. Lions have been eating humans since before we were really human

This is nothing remotely like the Romans and their horrible games. These men chose their fate.

Easy lesson- don’t poach the most endangered mammal on earth and you will not get eaten by lions.

[Flaleftist]

24. Poachers have murdered humans protecting reserves.

They know the risks and choose to kill poach anyway. Screw them. I hope this kind of thing happens to more often.

[mokawanis]

30. I agree with you

Last edited Fri Jul 6, 2018, 08:03 PM - Edit history (1)

celebrating the violent deaths of people is creepy and wrong, imo. I don't get how anyone can celebrate people being mauled and mutilated.


edit - mangled, not mutilated. lol fucking du

[SunSeeker]

37. The lions did not "mutilate" them. They ate them. It's what lions are supposed to do.

That's nature.

Only humans torture and mutilate other creatures for fun and profit.

The men that were eaten would have killed these magnificent, highly endangered creatures, sawed off their horns to sell, and left their mutilated bodies to rot. Here is a picture of what poachers did to rhinos in that same area: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210835400#post23
Being happy that did not happen, and that karma caught up to these evil men, is not "creepy" or "wrong."

[mokawanis]

60. They were mauled and mangled

They didn't mutilate them? The article says they were "mangled". Is there a difference? I'm not here to defend poachers, but I am here to state my opinion that celebrating the deaths of these people is wrong. I'm glad the animals they intended to poach are ok, but I would prefer the perps were sitting in jail, not dead.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

71. Being eaten by lions necessarily involves a certain amount of mangling and mutilating.

Lions are not fastidious eaters.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

83. Emily Post says pinky-claw up!

[mokawanis]

89. Funny!

[mokawanis]

91. yes, I'm sure it does

I was just responding to someone who said they weren't mutilated. I wasn't complaining about the eating habits of lions.

[Crunchy Frog]

72. It's called "nature taking it's course", not "mutilation".

[mokawanis]

90. sure, thanks for the objective assessment

[Crunchy Frog]

108. You're welcome.

Glad I could help.

[SunSeeker]

73. Mutilate implies an intent to torture/deface. The lions had no such intent.

The lions' intent was only to eat.

That is very different from the intent of the murderer who mutilates his victims, or the intent of the poachers to saw off the Rhinos horns after killing them. Mutilation is a human specialty.

[mokawanis]

93. No it doesn't

the definition of mutilate is:

to cut up or alter radically so as to make imperfect.
to cut off or permanently destroy a limb or essential part of.

Of course the lions' intent was to eat. Did someone say otherwise?

[SunSeeker]

95. Yes it does. Why use a word that vilifies the lions?

The word is commonly used to imply malice. Synonyms include:
"vandalize, damage, deface, ruin, spoil, destroy, wreck, desecrate, trash: the painting was mutilated."

The article does not use the word "mutilate." Why bring it up in regard to the lions?

It is one thing to not be happy with how the poachers met their end, but another to vilify the lions. There is no excuse for vilifying lions for being lions.

[mokawanis]

96. No it doesn't, and I'm not vilifying the lions

they were just being lions. My complaint is that some people are making jokes and celebrating the deaths of other people. They are entitled to their opinions, I am entitled to mine.

As for the word mutilation that you and a few others have focused on - that word is also commonly used in a way that does not imply malice. Like years ago when a friend got his hand caught in a machine at work, a nasty accident that left his hand so mutilated the docs decided to amputate. Did the machine have malicious intentions? Of course not. Did the lions have malicious intentions? Of course not.

I'm not vilifying the lions, and your statement that I am is bullshit.

[SunSeeker]

106. You are vilifying the lions if you are accusing them of "mutilation."

Last edited Sat Jul 7, 2018, 02:59 AM - Edit history (1)

And no, in the context of killing someone, mutilation has a very specific meaning and connotation. It very much suggests malice, evil and sadism. That was an inappropriate word to use with regard to these lions. As you acknowledge, the lions were just being lions.

The only evil in that preserve walked on two feet.

Look, I get it. You didn't intend to vilify lions. It appears you were trying to vilify the posters here celebrating the lions eating the poachers. So you suggested that what these posters were really celebrating was the mutilation of these poachers. One problem with that statement is that it also vilifies the lions. Of course, another problem with the statement is it unfairly vilifies DUers celebrating the lions getting the poachers.

[Coventina]

39. I celebrate violent criminals taking themselves out by their own choices and actions.

It's a win for all three species involved.

[Horse with no Name]

62. Yep yep yep

Totally agree.

[Duppers]

64. 👍

[billh58]

35. These "human beings" were

criminals profiting from killing an endangered species. Unlike the Christians fed to lions by the Romans, these less-than-human idiots willingly went to their deaths by taking an unacceptable risk -- and losing the gamble. Good riddance to them, and the planet has three fewer inhumane criminals.

We sincerely appreciate your concern, but DU is doing just fine.

[aggiesal]

36. Score, up to now ...

7 Disagree with your comment
1 Agrees with your comment.

Wait make that 8 disagree.
But I'm not celebrating their death, I celebrating that endangered species remain alive.
These 3 choose their own fate. Nobody pushed them out into an arena for entertainment.

[Coventina]

38. You really don't get "nature", do you?

Those humans were violent criminals, trespassing with the intent to kill.

They ran into a pride of lions. The lions reacted accordingly to what lions do when prey wanders into their territory.

Violent criminals meet their end, entirely due to their own choices and actions.

Excellent side benefit: no rhinos were injured!

It's a win for all three species.

[billh58]

41. Well said! n/t

[Coventina]

44. Thank you!

[amuse bouche]

40. Poachers are worse than murderers. The animals have no idea about what the hell is happening

Not a fighting chance.

All I can say is...Good Kitties

[JustAnotherGen]

43. Circle of Life n/t

[Devil Child]

52. In my opinion

Virtue signaling over dead poachers and lecturing forum posters on being sick and twisted reflects poorly on DU.

Only good poacher is a dead poacher. Preferably consumed by an alpha predator or other ironic demise.

[Kali]

53. Pppfffttt!

Too bad the middlemen and buyers of rhino horn weren't on the menu too.

[kcr]

55. Oh, please.

This is nothing like when Romans threw Christians to the lions. No one threw these poachers to the lions. They put themselves there, poaching. Do you know what poaching is?

[MFM008]

56. No sympathy

None.
They broke onto a preserved area
with guns and axes to kill rare rhinos.
Karma solved this problem.

[lunatica]

63. The poachers were probably armed to the teeth

Roman’s didn’t arm the people they threw in to be torn apart and eaten.

Your comparison is ridiculous.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

69. The lions were also armed to the teeth. Big ones.

[lunatica]

70. LOL!

In both examples.

[a la izquierda]

75. Give no fucks.

Rhinos are endangered. Humans aren’t and (should) have the presence of mind to be better stewards of the planet and it’s creatures.

[Chemisse]

84. I agree with you. I am not saddened by their deaths, but neither am I cheering.

I am glad that the rhinos were saved, but it is wrong to be gleeful about the death of another human being, no matter how reprehensible that person is.

[Maraya1969]

85. I think most people regard this, as I do, in a wider sense in that these

three poachers are going to stop a bunch of other poachers. So it is not just 3 dead, it seems to represent a change in the wind. Poachers now know that they will be prey to lions if they intend to hunt rhinos and their big guns won't protect them. Maybe this event will have a bigger limiting effect on rhino poachers.

[Raine]

87. Lots and lots of things posted here I'm sure reflect poorly

on DU anyway this isn't dark humor it's karma and for a change nature comes out on top.

[Renew Deal]

12. Security lions!

Haven't heard that one before

[Cha]

101. Watch Lions!

[keithbvadu2]

15. Send ketchup

[Stallion]

18. As Stephanie Rhule says-There's Good News Every Day!!!

...just got to look for it

[ellie]

20. Guard kittehs!

[MarianJack]

22. Hey poachers...

...WOMP WOMP!

PEACE!

[Botany]

23. A 2016 attack on Rhinos in the same area .... Kenton on the Sea

[Devil Child]

80. Thank you for posting this

This is why I celebrate the deaths of poachers

[rickford66]

25. African version of Junk Yard Dogs

[lagomorph777]

26. So these cats are there to eat vermin, same reason anybody keeps cats.

Well, I'm happy to see they're fully employed!

[Iggo]

27. Guard Lions.

What a concept.

[Submariner]

29. I hope the remains were not tossed away

After tenderizing and being torn to shreds by a pride of lions, if the remaining meat is dried and salted correctly, the lions can have a nice "human beef jerky" snack if live poachers running for their lives are not on the menu that night.

[backscatter712]

67. The lions probably ate them all in one sitting.

Lions can eat a huge amount of meat.

[bettyellen]

78. The hyenas and vultures get the scraps.

[relogic]

32. Lions outgunned in actuality

We might be encouraged by this sense of justice for despicable poachers. However, the likes of the rump sons (king of poacher spawn) tells us our precious wildlife are no match against these cruel trophy hunters or poachers of any ilk.

How sad that instinctive lions in need of food are utilized as a force in the hope of protecting creatures against a greedy, and superstitious motivated industry. They (lions) will ultimately lose like so many extinct mammals if the proud ‘hunters’ of our civilization are not irradiated by any karma available.

[H2O Man]

33. Better than a

coupon for cat food, I'd say.

[grantcart]

42. Recommended

[IronLionZion]

34. Guard lions on duty!

This is awesome. That means the lions won't be put down and are not a danger to any normal people, just poachers.

[Homer Wells]

45. Good Kittiez.

[catbyte]

46. ...

[IMG][/IMG]

[AllaN01Bear]

47. these rhinos are our rhinos . dont mess with them. BURRRP

[tblue37]

48. I didn't have that info when I posted my thread--but this detail makes the story

even more, um, delicious.

[MoonRiver]

50. Yes, that info wasn't available then.

And I agree, delicious!

[Best_man23]

51. A Shining Example of Jungle Justice

And the Lions applied this justice swiftly.

[MoonRiver]

54. Lions are apex predators.

Poachers sneaking into a protected sanctuary and trying to keep a low profile are no match for them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

66. And they're ambush predators like other cats.

They sneak up on you. What's cool about how lionesses hunt in small groups is that they furtively surround their prey in a sort of pincer formation before creeping close enough to pounce. I don't know how they coordinate their positions but evidently they do.

[kimbutgar]

59. Too bad those lions didn't eat that woman that killed the rare black giraffe

[jaysunb]

100. YES !!!!! my thoughts exactly n/t

[NBachers]

61. The missing skulls are now trophies in the Lion's Den.

[Crunchy Frog]

65. Nice to see when a good plan works as intended.

And good kitties. Hope they were tasty snacks.

[backscatter712]

68. Those were shit poachers...

...now literally.

[GulfCoast66]

74. Lucky they found any remains at all.

Lions eat everything on their prey, especially rather small ones like humans.

Brains are very nutritious and they are seldom wasted.

Hell, I feed my 10lb cat raw meat. She will polish off a chicken thigh till nothing is left. Takes her about 20 minutes to knaw down the entire bone.

[DFW]

110. "Brains are very nutritious and they are seldom wasted. "

No wonder so many Republicans go trophy hunting in Africa.

Predators obviously give them a low priority for their poor nutritional content.

[tonyt53]

76. Those sacks of shit turned into lion shit.

[suffragette]

77. Reminds me of an incident I saw once. Was visiting with a friend who had 5 cats, two ducks and

a rabbit.

The two ducks were in the back yard and a neighbor’s cat came over the fence and was stalking them. Three of the house cats jumped into action and chased that cat back over the fence and away. It all happened so quickly that I think I moved all of three steps during the time.

No way that those cats were going to allow another cat to attack their ducks.

[Hassler]

79. Obviously these aren't Detroit Lions or they would have ended up on the poachers' walls.

[Still In Wisconsin]

81. Who's a good kitty?

Now, let's feed them Tess Talley!

[Judi Lynn]

111. Good one. Time's a'wastin'! n/t

[Raine]

86. Watch cats, I Love it

Good Kitties, wonderful job!

[MrScorpio]

88. One Pride!

[meow2u3]

98. Great job, kitties!

They could use a bottle of Rolaids to alleviate their indigestion. I heard poachers could turn a lion's stomach.

[Guilded Lilly]

102. Nature has risks, and a point blank, unemotional balance. Poachers lost.

[applegrove]

103. I hope the locals are hired to protect the rhinos too. That is the best

way to protect animals and give local people an income.

[democratisphere]

104. Me love Jungle Justice!

[populistdriven]

105. Smart job Lions! But if the Lions think this will deter more stupid poachers, well then maybe not :D

[TeamPooka]

109. Ghost and the Darkness.

[KayF]

113. "We're not sure how many there were - there's not much left of them."

[Honeycombe8]

114. Good job! nt

[ecstatic]

116. So the Lions are now used to eating people...is that really a good idea?

Especially considering that high powered rifles were no match?