Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
A LOCAL wildlife ranger has succumbed to injuries sustained after he was gored by a black rhino while on patrol in the Savé Valley Conservancy.
Knowledge Mudzimureka, a member of the conservancy’s anti-poaching and wildlife monitoring team, passed away on Sunday, after spending nearly two weeks in critical condition at a private hospital in Harare.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said Mudzimureka was injured on May 26 while conducting a routine patrol with another ranger. The two reportedly encountered a black rhino cow with a calf which charged at Mudzimureka and gored him. “He sustained serious injuries to his abdomen, left lung, head, shoulder and knee,” said Mr Farawo.
The injured ranger was evacuated by ACE Air Ambulance and underwent two major surgeries, including one to manage a severe lung infection.
Mr Farawo said Mudzimureka had shown signs of recovery before his condition deteriorated unexpectedly.
“The medical team had expressed optimism. His passing has shocked the entire conservation community,” he said. Mudzimureka’s death highlights the dangers faced by rangers working to protect endangered species across Zimbabwe’s protected areas.
Black rhinos, though critically endangered, are known to be highly aggressive, particularly when accompanied by calves.
Madzimureka was buried yesterday.
Zimparks has extended condolences to Mudzimureka’s family and described him as a “dedicated and passionate ranger who served with honour.”
The Savé Valley Conservancy, one of the largest private wildlife reserves in Southern Africa, plays a key role in rhino conservation efforts in Zimbabwe. Rhino encounters, though rare, can be fatal when animals feel threatened.
