Baboon attacks, snatches toddler

PETRONELLA Moyo was cleaning her house in West Nicholson on November 16, when a lone baboon sneaked in and snatched her 18-month-old son.

Her attention was drawn by the screams of her son after the baboon had started savaging him, sinking its teeth in his buttocks.

“I was scrubbing the floor in the bedroom and the child was playing near the door. Suddenly I heard the baby screaming and when I turned to check what was happening I saw a baboon already dragging him. I started chasing after it, until it let go of him. The wound is very deep. The verandah for my house is quite high and when I saw the baboon jump over with him, I feared the worst. I thought he was dead,” she said.

Moyo also feared the baboon would flee with her son and that she might never see him again, alive. Baboons have very sharp canine teeth and claws which can injure and kill their victims.  Cases of wildlife attacking people are increasing in Gwanda District, it has been established.

There was a public outcry recently following the baboon attack, with residents expressing concerns that authorities were not treating the matter with the urgency it deserves, whenever they raise the issue of menacing baboons in town. However, contacted for comment on what the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority is doing about wildlife attacks on people in Gwanda, Parks spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo, said they are trying to capture some of the baboons and relocate them elsewhere.

“I can confirm having received a case of a toddler who was attacked by a baboon in Gwanda. The toddler is currently receiving treatment at Gwanda Provincial Hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery. We are trying to capture some of the baboons and relocate them somewhere else. Besides, we are also exploring other options like the use of legal means of elimination of problem baboons,” explained Mr Farawo.

In May 2019, a male student nurse at Gwanda Provincial Hospital was attacked and injured by a male baboon.  The second-year male nursing student was left with serious bruises after being attacked by a baboon.  The male student in his mid-20s was reportedly on his way from attending a lecture when the wild animal attacked him.(Source: New Ziana)