adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
BUBI Rural District Council has proposed a special wildlife levy to compensate people affected as a result of human and wildlife conflict. The call comes at a time when there is an increasing number of people who are losing property and lives or are sustaining permanent injuries after being attacked by wild animals.
Last week on Tuesday, two men were attacked by an elephant while working in their field in the district. One died on the spot and the other one succumbed to his injuries at Mpilo Central Hospital on Sunday.
Bubi council chief executive officer, Patson Mlilo, said communities frequently fall victim to wildlife attacks and affected families should be compensated.
“We’re appealing for this special levy from hunting concessions so that it can assist people affected by wildlife as is in this case where two people have been killed after they were attacked by an elephant. The State urges people not to kill wildlife, encouraging harmonious living between people and wildlife but they haven’t considered the problems caused by these animals,” he said. Mlilo said animals also destroy crops, attack livestock and people.
“Wildlife should be a sustainable and developing resource for the State and not an under-development injector to communities as it negatively affects agriculture, infrastructure and the workforce in communities,” he said. In as much as people are compensated for workplace disasters and road accidents, he said, there is a need for a compensation fund that will cater for animal attack victims.
“Agencies should pay to government a certain percentage of levies that will be contributed towards the compensation fund for wildlife victims such as those two who’ve just been killed by an elephant in the district,” he said.
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