News / National
Farmers, villagers live in fear as lion roams around
07 Dec 2024 at 13:09hrs | Views
Farmers and villagers in Macheke, Mashonaland East province, have been restricted to their homes following reports of a fugitive lion that escaped from Nyanga and has been spotted in the area. The lion, which crossed the Mupfure River from Manicaland into Mashonaland East, was last seen in the Gomba Mushemushe area on Monday.
A team of rangers from Nyanga spent several days attempting to track down the elusive predator, but efforts were unsuccessful. On Thursday, a new team of rangers from Marondera took over the search. Murewa South legislator, Noah Mangondo, confirmed that the lion had not yet been captured and that the community remains on edge.
"Nothing tangible so far, the last spoor was seen on Monday in Gomba Mushemushe. The new rangers from Marondera have replaced the Nyanga crew," Mangondo said in an interview with NewsDay Weekender. "The situation is generally calm, but there is tension. Some are making light of the situation by creating jokes on social media, but the fear is real. Movement has been limited, and we pray the predator is caught so that life can return to normal."
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has issued a warning to the residents of Macheke to exercise caution, especially at night. Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for Zimparks, confirmed that the lion is still being tracked and is believed to be in the vicinity of Macheke.
"We urge the community in the area to limit their movements, especially at night. The lion is still being tracked and is believed to be around some area in Macheke," Farawo said. "So far, there have been no reports of the lion attacking livestock or humans, but we advise caution until it is safely captured."
The presence of the lion has left many in the community worried, particularly farmers who fear for the safety of their livestock. While the lion has not yet been reported to attack, the heightened awareness and fear of potential danger have caused significant anxiety in the area.
Authorities and wildlife experts are continuing their efforts to safely capture the lion and restore peace to the Macheke community. Until then, local residents are advised to stay indoors during the night and report any further sightings to the authorities.
A team of rangers from Nyanga spent several days attempting to track down the elusive predator, but efforts were unsuccessful. On Thursday, a new team of rangers from Marondera took over the search. Murewa South legislator, Noah Mangondo, confirmed that the lion had not yet been captured and that the community remains on edge.
"Nothing tangible so far, the last spoor was seen on Monday in Gomba Mushemushe. The new rangers from Marondera have replaced the Nyanga crew," Mangondo said in an interview with NewsDay Weekender. "The situation is generally calm, but there is tension. Some are making light of the situation by creating jokes on social media, but the fear is real. Movement has been limited, and we pray the predator is caught so that life can return to normal."
"We urge the community in the area to limit their movements, especially at night. The lion is still being tracked and is believed to be around some area in Macheke," Farawo said. "So far, there have been no reports of the lion attacking livestock or humans, but we advise caution until it is safely captured."
The presence of the lion has left many in the community worried, particularly farmers who fear for the safety of their livestock. While the lion has not yet been reported to attack, the heightened awareness and fear of potential danger have caused significant anxiety in the area.
Authorities and wildlife experts are continuing their efforts to safely capture the lion and restore peace to the Macheke community. Until then, local residents are advised to stay indoors during the night and report any further sightings to the authorities.
Source - newsday
