Lion poaching: the brutal new threat to Africa’s prides

The big cats are horribly easy to kill with poisoned meat, allowing poachers to hack off their faces and paws – but rangers are now on their trail• Warning: this article includes graphic images some readers may find disturbing
“That’s fresh, just a few hours old,” says Kris Everatt, pointing at a clear print of a lion’s paw in the hot dust. “It’s the ghost pride.”The print is female. A bigger male print is soon spotted, also leading towards a