News / National
Man survives hyena attack
05 Jun 2025 at 10:12hrs | Views
A 34-year-old man from Mabaleni area in Dete, Matabeleland North province, is recovering at St Patrick's Hospital after surviving a vicious hyena attack last Thursday evening.
The victim, Wiseman Ngozo, was ambushed by the wild animal around 8pm while walking home under Chief Nelukoba's jurisdiction. His wife, Gloria Shoko, confirmed the incident and said her husband sustained serious injuries.
"The attack was reported to Hwange Rural District Council, and they helped us access medical treatment. Wiseman suffered a fractured hand and facial injuries," Shoko told reporters. "He also complains of general body pain, probably from the struggle with the hyena. He was bleeding heavily when he was taken to hospital and is still very weak, but he is recovering."
The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in rural Zimbabwe, particularly in areas close to game parks.
Shoko voiced concern over the growing presence of dangerous wildlife in their community.
"Wild animals are a serious problem here. Even lions roam around, killing our goats. We live in constant fear," she said.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the hyena attack and attributed the surge in such incidents to the overpopulation of wildlife in national parks.
"Our biggest challenge remains overpopulation of animals, which causes them to spill into nearby communities in search of food and water," Farawo said. "We strongly urge people to avoid walking at night, as most animal attacks occur during those hours."
According to ZimParks data, 18 people were killed by wild animals - mostly lions, hyenas, and crocodiles - in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Another 32 people were injured, while communities lost 53 cattle and 85 goats to predator attacks in the same period.
Comparatively, the same period last year saw 15 deaths and 43 injuries, underscoring a worsening trend.
The latest attack on Ngozo is likely to amplify calls for improved community safety measures and better wildlife management strategies in conflict-prone regions.
The victim, Wiseman Ngozo, was ambushed by the wild animal around 8pm while walking home under Chief Nelukoba's jurisdiction. His wife, Gloria Shoko, confirmed the incident and said her husband sustained serious injuries.
"The attack was reported to Hwange Rural District Council, and they helped us access medical treatment. Wiseman suffered a fractured hand and facial injuries," Shoko told reporters. "He also complains of general body pain, probably from the struggle with the hyena. He was bleeding heavily when he was taken to hospital and is still very weak, but he is recovering."
The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in rural Zimbabwe, particularly in areas close to game parks.
Shoko voiced concern over the growing presence of dangerous wildlife in their community.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the hyena attack and attributed the surge in such incidents to the overpopulation of wildlife in national parks.
"Our biggest challenge remains overpopulation of animals, which causes them to spill into nearby communities in search of food and water," Farawo said. "We strongly urge people to avoid walking at night, as most animal attacks occur during those hours."
According to ZimParks data, 18 people were killed by wild animals - mostly lions, hyenas, and crocodiles - in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Another 32 people were injured, while communities lost 53 cattle and 85 goats to predator attacks in the same period.
Comparatively, the same period last year saw 15 deaths and 43 injuries, underscoring a worsening trend.
The latest attack on Ngozo is likely to amplify calls for improved community safety measures and better wildlife management strategies in conflict-prone regions.
Source - NewsDay
