The Sunday Mail
George Maponga in MASVINGO
VILLAGERS settled around Save Valley Conservancy in Bikita have made an urgent appeal to Government to put in place contingency measures to help prevent stray predators from killing livestock.
Lions are reportedly killing at least 10 beasts in the area each week.
The spike in livestock deaths comes as cases of human-wildlife conflict continue to soar in eastern parts of Bikita, in Budzi communal lands, which borders the conservancy.
Besides lions that target livestock, villagers also face the burden of buffaloes, which not only claim lives but also spread foot-and-mouth in cattle.
Elephants also ravage crops in neighbouring human settlements, and the situation has been worse by scant rains that spawn food shortages for both humans and animals.
Chief Budzi said the situation was dire.
“In Wards 24, 25 and 26, stray wild animals are targeting both livestock and crops and sometimes humans. I appeal to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to urgently roll out interventions. Lions have severely decimated the livestock in communities around the park, with elephants not sparing the meagre crops that survived the poor rains.”
He said learners also face the risk of being attacked by animals.
The CAMPFIRE programme, he added, has to be expanded to provide a lasting solution.
At least US$4 million is required to rebuild the fence that was vandalised by poachers a couple of years ago.
ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo attributed heightened clashes between humans and wildlife at Save Valley Conservancy to the growing animal population and expansion of human settlements into the area.
“I would also like to caution against vandalism of the perimeter fence by poachers from adjacent communities. Such action always has a negative effect on communities,” he said.
