News / National
Villagers terrified as hungry hyenas hold vigil in their homes
03 Jan 2014 at 09:57hrs | Views
VILLAGERS in Chief Makore, Gutu District in Masvingo Province are living in fear of losing their lives and livestock to a pack of hunger-stricken hyenas which has resorted to laying vigil at their homesteads scavenging for food.
The packs are reportedly causing terror In neighbouring villages like Magombedze, Muunde and Makore where they could even be spotted during the day, a sad development which has caused villagers to panic.
Some villagers have also reportedly lost their donkeys and goats.
One of the affected villagers, Eddison Rimai, said if no immediate action is taken to control the marauding animals, their livestock would be wiped out.
He said the hyena menace was being caused by hunger which is bedevilling the area.
"We are really concerned about the problem of hyenas and we are living in fear of losing our livestock to these marauding animals which have resorted to sleeping at our homesteads ready to even attack us if we come out of our houses unarmed.
"During the night people are now walking around armed with knobkerries, stones and axes to scare away the hungry animals."
"We are failing to sleep fearing that if we do so our livestock would be tampered with."
"What even boggles our minds is the fact that they are now being spotted in the afternoon in search of food and people are panicking," said Rimai.
A local councillor Jeffrey Tangemhare said the problem of hyenas was brought to his attention and they were working on ways to contain the dangerous animals before they inflicted harm on people and their livestock
"The problem of hyenas was brought to my attention and I am planning to meet with relevant authorities to address this problem as a matter of urgency before villagers lose their livestock Villagers are failing to sleep fearing that hyenas would pounce on them and livestock while sourcing for food."
"The hyenas mainly target donkeys and goats and I have also received reports that some villagers have lost their goats." he said.
The packs are reportedly causing terror In neighbouring villages like Magombedze, Muunde and Makore where they could even be spotted during the day, a sad development which has caused villagers to panic.
Some villagers have also reportedly lost their donkeys and goats.
One of the affected villagers, Eddison Rimai, said if no immediate action is taken to control the marauding animals, their livestock would be wiped out.
He said the hyena menace was being caused by hunger which is bedevilling the area.
"We are really concerned about the problem of hyenas and we are living in fear of losing our livestock to these marauding animals which have resorted to sleeping at our homesteads ready to even attack us if we come out of our houses unarmed.
"During the night people are now walking around armed with knobkerries, stones and axes to scare away the hungry animals."
"We are failing to sleep fearing that if we do so our livestock would be tampered with."
"What even boggles our minds is the fact that they are now being spotted in the afternoon in search of food and people are panicking," said Rimai.
A local councillor Jeffrey Tangemhare said the problem of hyenas was brought to his attention and they were working on ways to contain the dangerous animals before they inflicted harm on people and their livestock
"The problem of hyenas was brought to my attention and I am planning to meet with relevant authorities to address this problem as a matter of urgency before villagers lose their livestock Villagers are failing to sleep fearing that hyenas would pounce on them and livestock while sourcing for food."
"The hyenas mainly target donkeys and goats and I have also received reports that some villagers have lost their goats." he said.
Source - Zimpapers
