adminVILLAGERS in Mabale under Chief Nelukoba in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, are counting their losses after a lion, suspected to be straying from Hwange National Park to communal areas, attacked and killed 31 cattle in two months.
Headman Moses Ndlovu yesterday told journalists that the attacks occurred between November and December this year.
He called on officials from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to act on the predator which he said had sparked fear among villagers in the area.
Headman Ndlovu demanded that the lion be killed as it was a threat to the livelihoods of people from his area who depend on cattle as draught power to till their fields.
He added that the beast could have devoured more cattle as villagers from neighbouring Chief Nekatambe had also complained of a similar challenge.
Figures of cattle lost in Chief Nekatambe’s area could not be immediately established.
“Previously, we have not had such problems. Of course our cattle were attacked but not at this rate. We are afraid that the lion might soon start attacking people. The lion now follows our cattle right to the kraals.
“Our appeal is to have the lion killed as soon as possible because it is causing a lot of problems in the area. As villagers we have agreed that the lion should be killed immediately and it’s now up to the Parks people to act,” he said.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority regional manager for the Western region Mr Arthur Musakwa, acknowledged having received reports from villagers on the lion attacks.
He said his office was considering a number of options to respond to the villagers’ concerns.
“There are options here and we are trying to see which is the best option to take. It’s either we capture the lion or kill it. Villagers should also assist us by quickly reporting attacks to allow us to respond swiftly.
Mr Musakwa also blamed villagers for luring the lion by grazing their cattle deep in Hwange National Park, beyond the buffer zone between the communal area and the park.
He also blamed poachers who trap buffaloes at the border of the park and the communal lands.
“Villagers set snares on the border of the park and communal lands to trap buffaloes and those trapped buffaloes attract lions which then stray into communal lands.
“We discourage villagers from recovering the carcass of the attacked animal because we would want to use it to bait the lion but we don’t seem to have an understanding there because the villagers want meat,” he said.
“Villagers also graze their cattle 10kms into the park beyond the 3km buffer zone we have created. There their cattle are attacked by lions and once a lion tastes cattle it will change hunting habits and follow the cattle to the communal lands,” he said.
Headman Ndlovu also complained of menacing zebras and elephants which he said were over populated in the area and perennially destroying their crops.
He urged the authorities to act on depopulating the area of zebra and elephants.
Online Reporter