News / National
Lions terrorise villagers
06 Jul 2017 at 14:39hrs | Views
Villagers here are living in constant fear of marauding lions that wandered off the Save Conservancy, and have been unable to go back into the vast animal sanctuary after they were cut off by the flooding of Save River during the rainy season.
The lions stray out of the conservancy since the electronic perimeter fence was vandalised.
The problem worsened when the Save River flooded, forcing the lions to established themselves in mountain ranges in communal lands.
This has pitted the big cats in perpetual conflict with villagers who have lost hundreds of cattle in areas such as Chibuwe, Masimbe, Gumira, Maronga and Middle Sabi - closer to Save River.
They are now wandering as far afield as Ngaone.
"Lions have, for years, given birth in mangroves across the river from the game reserve. These lions have always been a menace as they would take down cattle even during the day, along Save River," said Save-Odzi Community Development Trust vice chairperson, Isaac Ziwenjere.
He said the cats have been a menace on either side of Save Conservancy with Buhera and Bikita villagers also suffering huge losses of their domestic animals.
The Zimbabwe Wildlife and National Parks (Zimparks) recently shot a three-year-old lion at Bangwe after it had preyed on livestock.
But rarely does that happen, leaving villagers to devise ways of defending themselves.
About two years ago, a pride of lions took down two cattle in Taona Village, as the owner was driving them from the dip tank.
Officers from the Zimparks were called, but they never showed, according to Ziwenjere.
This has led the villagers to taking the law into their own hands.
"Last year in March, three lions that had caused havoc were poisoned. I'm sure who ever poisoned them did so because a man from Musani area had killed a lion with a bow and arrow which villagers ate only for Zimparks officials to try and hunt him down.
"They only managed to recover its head and, as locals, we felt they were being hypocritical as they don't show up when we make our reports but only became interested when a lion was killed," Ziwenjere said.
Efforts to get a comment from Zimparks officials were fruitless at the time of going to print.
The lions stray out of the conservancy since the electronic perimeter fence was vandalised.
The problem worsened when the Save River flooded, forcing the lions to established themselves in mountain ranges in communal lands.
This has pitted the big cats in perpetual conflict with villagers who have lost hundreds of cattle in areas such as Chibuwe, Masimbe, Gumira, Maronga and Middle Sabi - closer to Save River.
They are now wandering as far afield as Ngaone.
"Lions have, for years, given birth in mangroves across the river from the game reserve. These lions have always been a menace as they would take down cattle even during the day, along Save River," said Save-Odzi Community Development Trust vice chairperson, Isaac Ziwenjere.
He said the cats have been a menace on either side of Save Conservancy with Buhera and Bikita villagers also suffering huge losses of their domestic animals.
The Zimbabwe Wildlife and National Parks (Zimparks) recently shot a three-year-old lion at Bangwe after it had preyed on livestock.
But rarely does that happen, leaving villagers to devise ways of defending themselves.
About two years ago, a pride of lions took down two cattle in Taona Village, as the owner was driving them from the dip tank.
Officers from the Zimparks were called, but they never showed, according to Ziwenjere.
This has led the villagers to taking the law into their own hands.
"Last year in March, three lions that had caused havoc were poisoned. I'm sure who ever poisoned them did so because a man from Musani area had killed a lion with a bow and arrow which villagers ate only for Zimparks officials to try and hunt him down.
"They only managed to recover its head and, as locals, we felt they were being hypocritical as they don't show up when we make our reports but only became interested when a lion was killed," Ziwenjere said.
Efforts to get a comment from Zimparks officials were fruitless at the time of going to print.
Source - dailynews
