The Role of Mystical beliefs fuel Senegal's illegal big cat trade and threaten lion's survival in West Africa

The Role of Mystical beliefs fuel Senegal's illegal big cat trade and threaten lion's survival in West Africa

Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal - The morning sun slants through the canopy of Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park as Sgt. Abdou Diouf and his brigade of rangers march in single file, guns at the ready. They scan the brush for signs of poachers, but today, it seems, the only hunters are the lions themselves, their fresh tracks pressed into the sand.

As the sun climbs, a guttural call reverberates through the air. The park's anti-poaching force has tripled in size since Panthera partnered with Niokolo-Koba in 2016, and today they're on high alert. The sound of distress from one of their camera traps signals something may be amiss.

A closer look at the footage reveals a group of men armed with guns and knives, approaching an area where lions are known to roam. This is no ordinary hunting trip; these men have one thing on their minds poaching.

In recent years, Senegal has seen a surge in demand for lion parts, particularly from neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso. But the real catalyst behind this crisis? The belief that mystical powers can be harnessed by wearing pieces of lion skin or consuming its body parts.

One vendor in a bustling market told AP they could get over $3 for a small bit of lion skin that makes a single gris-gris. A belt can go for the equivalent of nearly $80, he said. The Panthera report said an entire lion skin can fetch the equivalent of $1,900 or more.

In some cases, the skins are even cut into thousands of pieces to cross borders more easily and avoid detection in local markets. It's a complex smuggling network that spans the continent.
Despite efforts by authorities like Eco Activists for Governance and Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Network, wildlife law enforcement organizations operating across Africa, and groups like Panthera and Niokolo-Koba National Park, seizures represent only a fraction of the actual trade. And as long as there's demand, poachers will continue to operate.

In 2019-2024, authorities in Senegal confiscated some 40 lion and leopard skins. During that same period, 40 people were arrested for trafficking skins and other parts such as teeth, claws, and skulls. These seizures represent only a fraction of the actual trade.

Smuggling networks are tough to dislodge, with established routes through the Sahel region evading checkpoints and border security on their journey into Senegal. It requires time, strategy, and a lot of professionalism.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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