Panic as villagers mistake cheetahs for lions
THERE was panic in the Goda area in Beitbridge’s Ward 5 yesterday when some villagers mistook two cheetahs that escaped from a conservancy, for lions.
Since 7am, most villagers in the area located 26km along the Beitbridge- Masvingo Highway, had stopped all farming activities and locked children in their houses.
News about lions being spotted in the area spread like a veld fire, leaving local residents apprehensive.
Scores of villages gathered in one of the maize fields to have a glimpse of the giant cats and nerves only calmed when Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers arrived around 10am.
“We have done our investigations these are the cheetahs which have been killing goats and sheep in villages around Beitbridge East,” said the ZimParks officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Bonizi Manuwere as he addressed the villagers following the capture of one of the cats.
He said they had called for backup from their counterparts from Bubye Valley Conservancy (BVC) to sedate the cats. They managed to capture one of the cheetahs while the other escaped towards Three Way Safaris.
According to Mr Manuwere, the officials had received a lot of reports on problem animals from rural communities around the district.
He said the two cheetahs had so far killed 13 goats and four sheep in Beitbridge East since the beginning of this month.
“We encourage people to report any problem animals to our offices so that we may assist them professionally,” said Mr Manuwere.
One of the villagers, Miss Agness Sibata said she nearly fainted when she saw the two animals.