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Smoking Vulture Brains a New African Gambling Tradition
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA --
Casino and betting patrons are, like premier athletes, always looking for anything that will give them that slight edge they need to tilt the odds from the house toward themselves. Thus, gambling fans in Sourth Africa have gone to a new extreme in searching for luck and winnings: smoking the brains of vultures.
South African tribal legend has it that vultures find prey in the most unlikely circumstances by employing a mystical power to gaze into the future. Further, the story goes that he who inhales the smoke from burning vulture brains will acquire this ability to foresee future events.
As gambling expands in South Africa, and casinos grow in numbers, gamblers have turned to the practice of purchasing dried vulture brains. The substance is then rolled in cigarette papers and smoked.
Environmental groups are concerned that the fad is endangering the vulture population, and some say gamblers may drive the birds out of existence in south Africa. Over 1000 birds were reported killed in Tanzania in 2007, alone.
"Traditional use as it is currently happening is likely to render vultures extinct in southern Africa on its own within 20 to 30 years," says Steve McKean at the KZN Wildlife website.
Meanwhile, animal experts play down the superstition regarding vultures.
"If it worked for the lottery, everyone would use it and we'd have a lot of millionaires walking around today," stated Andre Botha of the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Authorities are concerned the gambling boom certain to follow this year's World Cup to South Africa may cause a frenzy of vulture smoking.
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