WATCH: Saving an Adorable Hedgehog From a West African Death Market
Fun fact: People in the West African country of Mali will say, “The country is 80 percent Muslim, 20 percent Christian but 100 percent animist.” Which means that everyone carries amulets, “passports” (leather pouches), and rings that are full of magical potions created by a witch doctor … and that are made with all sorts of animal parts. The dearth of crocodiles in Bamako is even more ironic because “Bamako” is taken from a Bambara word meaning “crocodile river” … not so much anymore, just saying. The animals — or rather, their carcasses, end up in the Fetish Markets across the country… also known as the Witch Doctor or Death Markets.