BY NOMVELO SIZIBA
Residents of Mkhosana and Mfelandawonye in Ward 11 attended a human-wildlife conflict awareness meeting on Wednesday as conservationists urged communities to take extra precautions amid persistent wildlife incidents in and around Victoria Falls.
The session, organised by Connected Conservation, brought together 15 residents who received practical guidance on how to safely respond to encounters with elephants and other dangerous animals.
Connected Conservation representative Samson Gwedla said many injuries occur because people panic when they come across wildlife.
Samson Gwedla (CC image)“It is very important to learn the behaviours of animals. For example, with an elephant, if you observe it you can tell whether it has charged or not. Mostly people get hurt because when they encounter an animal they panic and react in a way that provokes the animal,” he said.
Gwedla warned against crowding around elephants when they enter residential areas.
“The problem we sometimes face when we come to chase elephants is that everyone will be outside wanting to see the elephant. Some want to take pictures and others want to take selfies. Now the elephant is stuck and will look for the weakest spot to pass by, and it may hurt people at that time.”
He urged residents not to throw stones or use slingshots to drive elephants away, saying such actions often make the animals more aggressive. Instead, he encouraged people to remain calm and immediately alert the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
The awareness campaign comes as human-wildlife conflict continues to exact a heavy toll across Zimbabwe. ZimParks statistics show that between 2020 and October 2025, authorities received 10,365 reports of human-wildlife conflict and attended to 9,199 cases. During the same period, 340 people were killed and 444 injured in wildlife-related incidents, while 3,061 problem animals were destroyed.
The conflict has also had a significant impact on rural livelihoods, with wildlife killing 952 cattle, 152 donkeys and 1,495 goats over the six-year period.
In Victoria Falls, the issue remains particularly acute because of the city’s close proximity to wildlife corridors. This year alone, elephants have reportedly killed two residents. A Japanese tourist was also critically injured in an elephant attack near the Big Tree earlier this year, although authorities have not publicly provided an update on his condition.
Motorists were also urged to exercise caution when encountering elephants on roads.
“Slow down and avoid hooting. Sudden noise can startle the animals and create danger for both motorists and pedestrians,” Gwedla said.
He encouraged residents to share wildlife safety information with neighbours and children and to keep emergency contact numbers for ZimParks readily available.
