Animal welfare investigators in South Africa have launched a criminal probe after The Mail on Sunday revealed shocking evidence of illegal lion hunting and bone smuggling. More than 300 farms are breeding lions either to be shot by wealthy hunters in enclosures or butchered for the grisly trade in lion skeletons. Lord Ashcroft’s team also captured evidence which appeared to show a pack of dogs being used to illegally hunt a captive-bred lion in a fenced enclosure. Meanwhile, Lord Ashcroft’s ‘double agent’ claimed that lion bones are being smuggled out of South Africa via Johannesburg Airport with the help of corrupt airport officials. His comments came as former Tory Cabinet Minister Andrew Mitchell said he was discussing with other MPs how to support Lord Ashcroft’s campaign in Parliament.

Source: Daily Mail June 21, 2020 00:50 UTC