Twilight was settling upon the Pridelands, and everything seemed at peace. The softer shades of night blanketed the realm as the diamond stars sparkled merrily overhead. Yet, at Pride Rock, King Simba couldn't sleep. Of course, everyone has nights when they can't sleep. However, this time Simba didn't know why he couldn't sleep. So he slipped outside, not waking his mate or two children.
He proceeded gradually toward the edge of his home. His handsome red eyes gazed around his kingdom. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. Yet, something was nagging him. He just kept staring till a sweet voice spoke up. "Simba? What's wrong?" his mate Nala questioned as she leaned into him.
"I'm not sure, Nala. Something amiss, but I don't know what. All I know is that something bad is about to happen. I can feel it in my bones."
"Well, maybe if you tried to sleep, it wouldn't bother you as much."
"Perhaps," as the royals were about to return to sleep, an unfamiliar sound rang out throughout the kingdom. No one knew what the sound was. For no one had heard it before now. Yet everyone woke up with a start from it and scrambled outside.
"Daddy! What was that?" demanded Kiara looking terrified. Even her younger brother, usually the level-headed one, looked frightened.
"I don't know, daughter," as he turned to face his pride. "Nala, please stay and look after the children. Zazu? Please fly to see if you can locate where the sound came from. Timon? You and Pumbaa stay here and safeguard the children," he then gestured to which lionesses he wished to join him and which to stay behind.
Nala cuddled against him, "Please be careful, Simba."
"I'll be careful, Nala. I'll try to be home by the time the sun rises. Stay here and stay safe," he licked her once before going to investigate. What the King discovered shocked him to the core! He found one of his elephant friends lifeless, but she wasn't the only one. Several corpses had been mutilated! Encircling them were alien tracks and scents.
He knew he'd have to seek the guidance of Rafiki. By morning the Pridelands Shaman emerged. He looked distraught and preformed a ritual. His grave expression said it all. He turned to his King and spoke gravely.
"These deaths were caused by creatures that haven't entered our home since the time of my great-great-great grandfather. They walk on two legs and don't have feathers, fur, or skin like ours.
They wear fake skins and have magic weapons. They don't care about the Circle of Life at all. Instead, they're consumed with hatred and greed. They're even more heartless then Scar ever was."
"Do you have a name for these intruders? Furthermore, how can we prevent this senseless slaughter?" questioned the King.
"They call themselves humans, King Simba. I don't know how we can drive them out without more of us dying. Nevertheless, we must drive them out as your ancestor did before. Or we'll all be hunted to death!"
"We need to come up with a strategy. Zazu?" he called to the hornbill.
"Yes, Sire?"
"Please assemble a small and discrete party to keep tabs on these humans. We will work to figure out how to drive them out. In the meantime, I'll send word that everyone is to stay around Pride Rock. We mustn't be caught alone and without protection!"
"Understood, Sire. I'll have my fellow feather friends pass the message along for the herds to gather at Pride Rock," with that, the azure bird took wing.
"I need to return to warn my family, Rafiki. Please, do your best to help safeguard us."
"As you wish, my King."
Everyone was petrified that unknown creatures had swarmed their lands. Moreover, had magic weapons that could render them dead instantly. Also, how their bodies were mutilated for whatever twisted purpose.
Eventually, the lions located where these creatures were hiding. They didn't know if they should kill them or not. However, it could come to that. But everyone worked quickly and silently to eliminate the weapons and eradicate their unusual beast of burdens.
However, much to their displeasure, in the end, they're forced to slaughter the wicked humans since they wouldn't leave. By the end of it, they'd lost several members of various herds. They're given honorable burials and made sure to dispose of any evidence of humans.
From that day forward, they knew they must prepare themselves if any of these callous creatures encroached once more on their kingdom. Only time would tell, but one thing was for certain. They undoubtedly would return.
In Africa, poachers kill thousands of endangered animals every day. For example, rhinos are poached at one per 12 hours. Rhino poaching is likely to increase by 356% by 2030. Every year, 35,000 elephants in Botswana are slaughtered.
Africa is home to the world's most iconic wildlife. Yet, endangered animals are slaughtered so that a single body part – like tusks, pelt, or bones – can be illegally sold for vast sums of money.
The demand for rhino horn is exceedingly high on the black market and is even valued more than gold. As a result, South Africa, home to roughly 75% of the African rhinoceros population, has seen the most poaching per capita.
There are countries in Africa, including Botswana and the Congo, where it is legal to shoot and kill poachers if caught in the act. These regulations often referred to as shoot-to-kill policies, have been widely discussed and are a very controversial topic in Africa (White, 2014).
Ebola, one of the world's most horrific diseases, has had outbreaks in Africa directly linked to the poaching and consumption of primates. Further, bird flu (H5N1), Monkey Pox, and Heartwater Disease are additional examples of diseases now facilitated by the illegal wildlife trade.
Some animals, such as birds, reptiles, and primates, are captured live to be kept or sold as exotic pets. But on the other hand, slaughtered animals have commercial value as food, jewelry, decor, or traditional medicine.