Lions wreak havoc

Beitbridge Bureau
A pride of lions believed to have strayed from Northern Tuli National Park in Botswana has resurfaced in Beitbridge West where they are reportedly terrorising villagers and killing livestock. So far the predatory animals are reported to have attacked a man from Jalukange area who was tracking his stray donkeys near the Botswana border.

Sifelani Moyo, who resides under Chief Stauze, is said to have survived the attack after hitting the wild cat on the mouth with a stone.
The lions are reportedly killing donkeys around Jalukange and Bili areas and those underlying the Tuli Circle area.

Ward 8 councillor-elect Mr Luka Ndou confirmed the developments yesterday, adding that the villagers were now living in fear of being attacked by the lions.

He said the lions have become a perennial problem for villagers in the western part of the district and urged the responsible authorities to intervene and contain the problem.

Clr Ndou said they had since notified the local safari operator and the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, but nothing has materialised.

“We are having a problem with stray lions from Northern Tuli National Park in Botswana and these are killing livestock, especially donkeys. We have an unfortunate incident where one man, Sifelani Moyo, was attacked by a lion while tracking some of his stray donkeys near the park,” said Clr Ndou.