Hyena launches night raids on Gohole village homes

Residents of Gohole Village in Number 10, Manama Ward 17, are living in fear after a hyena repeatedly invaded homesteads over two consecutive nights, killing livestock, attacking domestic animals and, in a bizarre twist, chewing on residents' sandals.

The predator has reportedly entered several family compounds over the past few days, killing and feeding on puppies, chickens, guinea fowl and goats. Villagers say the animal has shown unusual boldness by venturing into well-lit homesteads while people were asleep inside their houses.

Gohole village head, Rorisang Nare, confirmed that he had received reports of the attacks despite being away in Bulawayo.

"I have received reports about the destruction caused by the hyena in our area, and I am shocked. It entered people's homesteads, killed chickens by biting off their heads, killed guinea fowl and goats, and even chewed on shoes. It is astonishing that a hyena can enter occupied homesteads while people are sleeping," said Nare.

"What I have always known is that hyenas usually avoid the scent of humans and run away when they detect people. This behaviour is very unusual."

Khongongo village head Sandisiwe Nkomo described the incidents as alarming and said the attacks had left the community frightened.

"We have been hit by a disturbing situation. A hyena is entering villagers' homes, fighting with dogs, killing goats, chickens, puppies and guinea fowl, and even chewing on shoes," she said.

Nkomo recalled that the problem may have begun last month when a herder from Halisupi was seriously injured after being attacked by a hyena while tending his goats during the day.

"We do not know whether it is the same animal or whether there are several of them. We appeal to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to help remove these animals because our lives and livestock are now at risk."

Resident Admire Dube said the predator killed all five of his puppies.

"The hyena ate my five puppies. It even fights with dogs and is not afraid of them. It is dangerous to people as well. It returned again last night but fled when we woke up. We urgently need help because it appears there is more than one hyena," he said.

Another resident, Regina Sibanda, said one of her goats was killed just metres from her home before the animal wandered into her yard.

"My goat was killed and only partly eaten. After leaving the goat pen, the hyena entered my yard and roamed around the house. It then chewed one of my grandchild's Crocs sandals that had been left outside the door," she said.

"What surprises us most is that the entire yard is lit by security lights, including the place where the shoe was chewed. We have never seen a hyena behave like this."

Beauty Sibanda also lost a pair of sandals during one of the attacks.

"The hyena killed a goat, ate part of it and then entered our yard. The previous evening I had left my sandals outside near the door after washing. The following morning they had been chewed, and we found hyena footprints right at the doorstep," she said.

"It is difficult to understand how a hyena can ignore bright lights and still enter people's homes."

Another resident, Sikhangele Moyo, said the animal killed several of her chickens and guinea fowl.

"It killed my chickens by biting off their heads and also killed my guinea fowl. We woke up to find them dead in the morning. We are now living in fear, especially women and children who are often left alone while the men are at work. We need these hyenas removed because we are now afraid to move around in the evenings," she said.

Human-wildlife conflict has become an increasing concern in Matabeleland South Province. Last month, a man from Halisupi sustained serious injuries after being attacked by a hyena while herding goats, raising fears that encounters between people and wild animals are becoming more frequent in the area.

Residents are now calling on ZimParks to urgently intervene before the attacks escalate and result in injuries or loss of human life.