Wild dogs attack spark fear in Makoni

Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
FEAR has gripped the Mutungagore community in Makoni South Constituency, where marauding wild dogs are viciously attacking villagers, including school children, leaving one of them, with deep wounds and hospitalised.
Last week alone, four victims fell prey to brutal attacks in the escalating human-wildlife conflict, which has seen wild animals encroaching into villages, schools, and homesteads in broad daylight, leaving a trail of terror and petrified community in their wake.
One of the victims, Mrs Besnat Mukara, narrowly escaped death after being ambushed by a wild dog while walking alone through the fields adjacent Mutorahuku River.
The vicious animal allegedly emerged from a bushy area and pounced on the unsuspecting Mrs Mukara, but she fortunately mustered all her strength to fend it off, despite suffering deep bites to her hands in the process.
After the ordeal, she was rushed to Rusape General Hospital, where she received
treatment for rabies and tetanus before being discharged.
The attacks have sent shockwaves through the community, leaving villagers on the edge as they go about their daily lives, amid growing concerns about the safety and well-being.
In a telephone interview with The Manica Post on Tuesday, Mrs Mukara said she was lucky to be alive after being attacked by a wild dog, and is still unsure how she mustered the strength to subdue the animal.
“I was in the fields near Mutorahuku River, an area with dense bushes, and I was alone. The wild dog emerged from the undergrowth and attacked me, biting my hands as I fought it off. It was a fierce struggle, but I managed to overpower the animal, smashing it to the ground, and it fled. I was rushed to Rusape General Hospital, where I received treatment for rabies and tetanus,” said Mrs Mukara.
Makoni Rural District Council representative for Ward 28, Councillor Antony Chiguvari painted a grim picture of the situation, saying the community is now gripped by fear of a comeback by the wild dogs, which roam freely in the ward, even during broad daylight.
Councillor Chiguvari said a primary school learner, who was walking to school alone, was recently saved from being attacked by quick-thinking villagers.
Councillor Chiguvari blamed the proliferation of lantana tree species in the area for
contributing to the surge in wild dog populations, as these bushes provide,
both shelter and food for the wild animals.
Other reasons contributing to the descent of wild animals into communities, attacking people and wildlife, include habitat loss and fragmentation, human-wildlife
conflict, and climate change. As natural habitats shrink, wild animals may bebforced to venture into human settlements in search of food and shelter, while changes in land use, such as agricultural expansion, can lead to encounters between humans and wild animals.
“The first victim to be attacked last week is a Grade Three learner at St Peter’s Tokoyo Primary School, who was mauled while at the entrance of Mutungagore High School. It was in the morning, and the learner was on his way to school. He did not sustain major injuries, as other people quickly intervened to save him.
“Another primary school learner was chased on his way from school, but luckily, there were adults nearby who intervened and chased the wild dog away.
On Monday, two wild dogs besieged a homestead, but the people were vigilant enough and killed one of them. There has been an influx of wild animals, especially
wild dogs, in the last few years.
“They are multiplying in large numbers. We believe this is because of the presence of the lantana tree species, which provide shelter and food to the animals. The
tree species spread in our area in the early 1990s, and there was once a programme to cut them down, but it was unsuccessful. It is being spread by baboons, wild dogs, dogs, cattle, birds and humans, who all eat its fruits.
“These wild dogs are roaming our area in broad daylight. We are spotting them everywhere in the villages. They bark a lot at night. We have since contacted Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority for assistance, and they have asked us to provide meat so that they can trap the wild dogs. We are in the process of doing that. We also have the challenge of a rising baboon population, which is becoming a menace, as they are attacking goats, chickens and crops. As safety precaution measures, we are encouraging learners to move in groups and parents to accompany them to school. Elders are now moving around with knobkerries or axes to fend off attacks by these wild animals,” said Councillor Chiguvari.
Hyenas and wild dogs are also wreaking havoc in Makoni North and Central constituencies, Buhera and Mutare districts.
The marauding animals are attacking people and domestic animals, leaving a trail of destruction.
In a bid to restore sanity, ZimParks intervened last month, gunning down seven hyenas and one wild dog. The authorities are working on measures to prevent further attacks and ensure public safety in the affected areas.
Contacted for comment, ZimParks spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo said he was yet to be briefed by the authority’s officers in the province on the latest attacks.
“My team on the ground are compiling all the details for us to be able to comment,” he said.