Three lions have been found poisoned with their heads and paws removed for use in black magic spells in the latest attack by poachers in South Africa.

The big cats were found dead at the Kareefontein farm outside Modimolle in the north east of the country.

Security raised the alarm after seeing the dead animals and police later found a knife abandoned at the scene of the slaughter.

Three lions have been found poisoned with their heads and paws removed for use in black magic spells in the latest attack by poachers in South Africa (file picture)

It comes a month after two lions were butchered in similar circumstances by poachers who broke into the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Vaalwater, northern South Africa.

In the latest killings, the local police have launched a manhunt for a group of suspects, according to Capricorn Review.

Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe said: 'Police investigations will continue and the suspects in this matter are still unknown. No arrests have been made as yet.'

In June, male lions José and Liso who endured 'hell on earth' in South American circuses before being transported to a wildlife refuge in South Africa also had their heads and paws cut off in possible witchcraft-related killings.

Last month, two lions were butchered in similar circumstances by poachers who broke into the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary (pictured) in Vaalwater, northern South Africa

The incursion into the sanctuary highlighted how brazen poachers can infiltrate places like Emoya, which said it had 24-hour security and armed patrols and has taken additional measures to protect its property.

Lions are often killed in South Africa to create potions for the country's witchcraft practitioners.

In January, poachers cut through fences at another animal park in South Africa and decapitated and chopped the paws off three male lions, possibly for use in traditional healing rituals.

While lion parts have long been used in some African cultures, conservationists have raised concerns that poachers are increasingly targeting lions because of demand in some Asian countries.

African lion bones are a relatively recent substitute in tonics for the bones of Asian tigers, whose numbers were depleted by poachers. Lion teeth and claws are known to have value as trinkets.