Stray lions feast on villagers’ beasts
August 19, 2012 in Community News
BY TATENDA CHITAGU
CHIVI — Several villagers in Chivi have lost their livestock to a pride of
lions believed to have escaped from a nearby conservancy over three weeks
ago.
The villagers said they had since limited their movements especially at
night, for fear for their lives.
One of the villagers, Tapiwa Mukusha of ward 16 in Phwanyayi area under
Chief Masunda, said a lion was recently shot by officials from the Parks and
Wildlife Management Authority.
This leaves four others roaming in the area, he said.
“While the lions have not yet reached our village, people in neighbouring
villages like Chakawa, Makani and Gwitima villages under Chief Chipindu have
lost their cattle and other livestock to the lions,” said Mukusha. “We hear
the lions roaring even though we have not yet seen them. But our neighbours
say they often see their paws when a beast has been attacked.”
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director-general Vitalis Chadenga
last week said they had sent a team of officials to investigate the matter.
“If this is confirmed, it will not be the first time that lions escaped from
Simply Wild Conservancy,” said Chadenga. “We are engaging the new owners so
that they can manage that conservancy well and secure the animals. But we
have sent a team on the ground to investigate.” The owners of the
conservancy could not be reached for comment.
This is the second time that stray lions have caused havoc in Masvingo.
In February this year, a pride of about four lions that strayed from Devuli
Ranch Conservancy in Bikita district reportedly killed about 20 beasts in a
month.