BY WANDILE TSHUMA
In a bid to address the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority yesterday shot down a problem elephant in Hwange.
The elephant had been terrorizing communities and destroying mango fruits, prompting concerns about the safety of locals.
Ingagula councillor Brian Chikumbo confirmed the shooting, saying, “We have been having some human-wildlife conflicts of late, whereby jumbos, more than four herds, have been coming into the community around 7 pm every day and even inside people’s houses. It had become unbearable, and very soon we could have recorded a fatality.”
Chikumbo emphasized the need for a lasting solution to address the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.
“We just want a lasting solution because we fear that one day we might have a fatality as the numbers and teams are increasing every day.”
Background: Human-Wildlife Conflict in Zimbabwe
Human-wildlife conflict is a growing concern in Zimbabwe, with recent statistics showing a significant rise in incidents.
At least 200 people have been killed and several others injured, some permanently, since 2019.
The conflict is not limited to human casualties; livestock and crops have also been severely affected, with a 200 percent increase in crop damage and loss reported.