Campaign to curb rising wildlife-vehicle accidents begins

FOLLOWING the recent roadkill of two pups from the Umkhonto painted dog pack along the busy Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, conservationists have rolled out targeted road safety awareness campaigns along a 40km detour in the Hwange landscape, as efforts intensify to curb rising wildlife-vehicle accidents.

The incident, which occurred within the Hwange landscape, was reported hours later, raising concerns over delays in incident reporting and the effectiveness of wildlife monitoring systems along one of Zimbabwe’s busiest tourism routes.

According to Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) communications manager, Mr Ronnie Sibanda, the organisation is “heartbroken” by the loss, describing it as a significant setback to conservation efforts.

“Just yesterday, our team had safely escorted the pack across the Mabale-Main Camp road and left them in a safe area. We believe they were later disturbed by lions during the night and moved before first light towards the road when this tragedy occurred,” he said.

The latest incident brings to three the number of painted dogs killed along the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo road in less than a week, with another dog from a different pack reportedly struck near Victoria Falls.

Mr Sibanda stressed that the impact of such losses extends far beyond the immediate deaths.

“It’s not ‘just three dogs’. These individuals could have become alphas and been responsible for producing over 300 dogs through their offspring and subsequent generations,” he said.

Painted dogs are among Africa’s most endangered carnivores, with fewer than 7 000 remaining in the wild. Zimbabwe hosts one of the key populations, and their survival depends heavily on stable pack structures, meaning even small losses can significantly weaken breeding potential.

Conservationists say road traffic remains a major threat, particularly where highways cut through wildlife corridors. The Umkhonto pack, one of the most prominent in Hwange, has been under constant monitoring and is widely recognised within the safari industry.

The deaths come amid growing concern over increasing wildlife-vehicle collisions along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway, especially in sections bordering Hwange National Park.

These concerns have been amplified by a 40km detour between Cross Mabale and Cross Dete, which channels heavy traffic through sensitive wildlife corridors. Conservation groups had earlier warned that the diversion would heighten the risk of roadkills, fragment habitats and disrupt animal movement patterns- fears now reinforced by the recent incidents.

In response, awareness campaigns are now being rolled out along the detour to reduce further wildlife fatalities. Painted Dog Conservation is working in partnership with Traffic Safety Zimbabwe and other stakeholders to educate motorists and promote safer driving practices in wildlife zones.

The campaigns include increased signage, community engagement and direct outreach to motorists, with a strong emphasis on speed reduction, particularly at night when animals are most active.

Experts note that painted dogs play a critical ecological role by regulating herbivore populations such as impala, helping to prevent overgrazing and maintain ecosystem balance. Their presence is widely regarded as an indicator of a healthy environment.

Despite ongoing mitigation efforts including patrols, animal escorts and warning signage, conservationists say stronger enforcement and additional traffic-calming measures are urgently needed.

“We urge all road users to slow down, especially at night, and call on authorities to strengthen and enforce speed reduction measures in wildlife areas. Their survival depends on it,” said Mr Sibanda.

While mourning the loss, the organisation says it remains committed to protecting the Umkhonto pack and other wildlife in the region.

“We will continue doing everything within our power to protect the Umkhonto pack and all wildlife that share this landscape,” he added.

Efforts to get a comment from Zimparks were unsuccessful. Conservationists argue that the incident is a stark reminder that as infrastructure development accelerates, balancing progress with conservation remains critical to safeguarding Zimbabwe’s unique wildlife heritage.