The Sunday Mail
Sharon Munjenjema
Cases of human-wildlife conflict plummeted by 39 percent to 198 this year from 323 cases recorded last year, it has emerged.
Unsurprisingly, fatalities resulting from the clashes fell to 25 from 34 in 2017.
“Generally, cases of fatal human-wildlife conflict decreased this year compared to last year.Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) public relations manager Mr Tinashe Farawo attributed the progress made thus far to awareness campaigns.
“We attribute this to the awareness programmes we continue to carry out in communities.
“We have partnered with different organisations to promote awareness, especially in areas close to national parks. Wildlife attacks on tourists continue to occur. We urge the public, especially during this festive season, to be wary of wild animals,” he said.
Tourists, he added, should stop encroaching into wild animal spaces, particularly by attempting to take ‘selfies’ with them. Of the 198 cases of human-wildlife conflict reported this year, the Authority managed to attend to 175 of them.
At least 34 cases of crocodile attacks on humans and livestock were recorded, resulting in the death of 16 people, while nine were injured. Among those injured is a local female tourist who lost an arm in a crocodile attack that occurred five days before her wedding, with her story attracting international headlines.
The incident took place while she was canoeing along the Zambezi River (Victoria Falls) with her fiancé early this year. There were 37 cases of elephant attacks, which resulted in seven fatalities.
Five people were injured by the jumbos.
Human-wildlife conflict incidences involving hippos and buffaloes occurred 26 and 13 times, respectively. One person died and two were seriously injured in hippo attacks, while one person was gored to death by a buffalo.
Further, although there were 36 cases of lion attacks, they did not result in any fatalities.
Overall, 67 cattle, 105 goats and 17 donkeys were lost to predatory animals. Zimparks has had to put down 40 wild animals in areas where attacks were recurring.
Mr Farawo said, “When an animal has become a threat to society, we have to eliminate it and this year, we eliminated about 40 of them.
“Crocodile attacks are the most problematic. We advise the public to treat all water bodies with suspicion. We have lost so many lives due to crocodile attacks and most of the victims are caught unaware doing laundry, fishing etcetera.”
Statistics from Zimparks show that human-wildlife conflict is most notorious in southern parts of the country.
The Authority plans to set up permanent bases in human-wildlife conflict-prone areas that are prepared to promptly respond to distress calls from affected communities.
Government is also in the process of establishing a fund that will compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict.
