The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
A six-year-old boy from Masvingo lost his lower right leg yesterday after a crocodile attack along Mwenezi River.
The boy was attacked while fetching water.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) head of corporate communications Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident.
“It’s very unfortunate that more people continue to be injured or killed. We have reacted of course; we have killed the crocodile and the young boy is receiving treatment,” Mr Farawo said.
He said elephants and crocodiles are contributing more than 90 percent of reported human-wildlife conflict cases that end in fatalities.
With Zimbabwe being at the peak of the dry season, Mr Farawo said most of the water bodies are dry, hence wild animals will be moving in search of water and food, and in the process invading communities.
Mr Farawo said Zimparks was moving around conducting campaigns, teaching people in communities about animal behaviour and what to do to avoid attacks.
“I have noticed that most of the cases happen in the night with regards to other animals that are not crocodiles.
“We have had two, three cases in Kariba last week, of which most of the cases happened at night. So, we are saying people should try to minimise movements at night. We are also saying don’t provoke the animals, give them space so that they can move freely.
“Some people try to take pictures at very close range to the animals. The animals definitely get irritated and react.”
Cases of human-wildlife conflict have become all too frequent, with a 32-year-old woman and her child being seriously injured by an elephant in Kariba recently.
And a 60-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant in Victoria Falls this week.
Added Mr Farawo: “We are also saying treat every water body with suspicion when it comes to crocodiles. We had very good rains last year so what this means is with the flash floods the crocodiles will be moving around.
“Though a human being can outpace a crocodile, they usually attack at close range.”
According to Zimparks, around 60 people have lost their lives after being attacked by elephants and crocodiles since the beginning of the year.
