Conservationists trying to save Senegal’s last lions
NIOKOLO-KOBA NATIONAL PARK, Senegal (MNTV) — In Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park, the country’s last lion sanctuary, conservationists are grappling with a growing illegal trade in lion and leopard parts, fueled by the belief in their mystical properties.
A recent study by Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization, found that lion and leopard components are available in 80% of surveyed markets, with 63% of artisans reporting increased sales.
This trade poses a significant threat to conservation efforts, even as lion populations have doubled since 2017, reports Africa News.
Locally known as “gris-gris,” amulets fashioned from animal skins, are prescribed by influential religious leaders known as “marabouts.”
Believed to provide protection, strength, and success, these talismans are widely used across Senegal, finding favor among police officers, wrestlers, politicians, and everyday citizens.
Dr. Cheikh Babou, a history professor and expert on Islam in West Africa, explains that the origins of gris-gris lie in traditional African belief systems that ascribe inherent powers to animals.
Most of the Senegalese practise Islam which emphasizes the sanctity of life and prohibits unnecessary harm to animals.
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