Lions wreak havoc in Hurungwe
FARMERS living close to Charara National Park here have expressed concern over marauding lions which are killing their livestock.
Nyaodza (Ward 26) councillor Wiseman Mumba said cases of human-wildlife conflict were on the increase with lions reportedly having killed 19 cattle since January.
“Last year we lost 40 cattle here in Nyaodza, including donkeys,” he said.
“We also lost many goats to hyenas. Since January this year we lost 19 cattle to lions. And, just recently two donkeys were killed by lions which had strayed from Charara National Park along Nyaodza River.” The marauding animals which include elephants, lions, hyenas, baboons and monkeys often attack livestock and destroy crops for farmers dotted along Charara national park bigger zone.
“We have made several reports to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, but nothing has been done yet to help us,” said Clr Mumba. “Whenever we report the cases, parks people say they have no fuel, vehicles and times they just say their vehicles have no tyres. This is a challenge and it’s not helping to reduce attacks on our livestock.” However, he said they had not been any reports of attacks on humans. Elijah Gunda, a Nyaodza farmer who lost an ox to the lions is bitter. “Parks people are not helping us at all,” he complained bitterly.
“If the parks people, council and government cannot help us, they should give us guns to kill the lions. I know how to fire a gun and l can kill a lion. After my ox was killed, 7 others were later attacked again at a nearby village. “
They have been numerous reports of human wildlife conflicts across the country as humans compete with animals for dwindling resources.
The UN and FAO with support of the Japanese embassy in Zimbabwe is working with the government to implement a US$300 000 emergency response project focusing on human-wildlife conflicts in Hurungwe district in Mash West province.
More than 55 elephants and other wild animals have starved to death in recent months as drought forced animals to stray into nearby communities in search of food and water.
This year alone 20 people have been killed due to human-wildlife conflicts across the country. Sanctions and CITES animal products trade restrictions have crippled operations of the Zim National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Zimparks has failed to generate revenue to support its conservation activities such as anti-poaching and fencing.
The authority only generates $24 million a year against an expenditure of $37 million (US$2,5 million). If a ban on animal and animal products trade is lifted, the authority can generate some US$600 million a year, enough to boost its conservation operations.