Surge in Cape vulture poaching ahead of World Cup
It's a strange way to prepare for a session of gambling - even for UK online casino players in their own homes - but some gamblers in South Africa are going to extraordinary lengths to prepare for the World Cup betting frenzy.
According to wildlife experts in the country, gamblers are poaching vultures and smoking their brains because they think it will result in an improved sixth sense. So the theory goes, this will then help them to predict World Cup match results.
The practice stems from muti magic and Mark Anderson from BirdLife South Africa believes that it runs the risk of seriously endangering the country's vulture population. He said:
"The harvesting of the bird's heads by followers of muti magic is an additional threat these birds can't endure."
Steve McKean from KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife remarked that vulture numbers on the Cape could fall drastically in the next 12 years. He added:
"Our research suggests that killing of vultures for so-called 'traditional' use could render the Cape vulture extinct in some parts of South Africa within half a century."
World Cup gambling fever
The World Cup is certainly going to be a busy time for online gamblers - even if it's through disillusioned non-football fans escaping the action with a session of free slots.
Analysts are predicting that £3 billion is set to be spent on betting this summer worldwide. Interest in the competition is said to be higher than ever, largely because all the major nations have qualified. Indeed, this week's legalisation of online gambling in France could not have come at a better time.