In the community

Government considers culling elephants to feed starving communities

Published

8 months ago

September 12, 2024

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwean government is considering culling elephants to feed communities struggling with starvation, Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Sithembiso Nyoni announced in parliament yesterday.

The move comes as the country grapples with a devastating drought that has left over seven million people in need of food aid. The government aims to utilize the meat from culled elephants to provide protein to starving communities.

Minister Nyoni emphasized that the culling process would be done within the confines of the law and in consultation with local communities. “We are having discussions with Zim Parks and some communities to count the elephants, mobilize the women to dry the meat, and package it to ensure it gets to those who need it,” she explained.

“The Ministry is working very hard to ensure that within the confines of the law, we can cull what is allowed for us to cull and be able to input into the Presidential feeding schemes to provide the protein,” she added.

The minister acknowledged that Zimbabwe’s elephant population has exceeded the recommended eco-system balance, leading to starvation and deaths of elephants. “We have more elephants than our forests can accommodate,” she said.

Furthermore, Minister Nyoni highlighted the issue of human-wildlife conflict, which is prevalent in most parks. “When there is overpopulation of wildlife in a specific park, they will then seek to go outside the park to look for other resources such as water or greenery. When that happens, they will then come into contact with humans and conflicts begin,” she explained.

While the move has sparked debate, Minister Nyoni assured that the government is working hard to ensure the culling process is done humanely and within international conventions.

Additionally, the move is expected to help mitigate human-wildlife conflict, which has become a major concern in many parts of the country.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

1 month ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.