EIGHT people were killed by wild animals, specifically crocodiles, since the onset of the rainy season in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has said.
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo expressed concern over the rising number of human-wildlife conflicts across the country, resulting in loss of life.
“Over the last two months, the authority has received over 20 reports, with eight fatalities, while three people were seriously injured,” Farawo said in a statement.
The most affected areas are the South East Lowveld and Mid Zambezi, with multiple incidents reported near water bodies such as Lake Kariba, Hunyani River and Angwa River.
“The most affected areas are South East Lowveld (6) (Lundi, Tougwi-Mukosi, Lake Mutirikwi), Central region (5) (Munyati river, Kwekwe River, Sebakwe River), Mid Zambezi (5) (Lake Kariba, Hunyani River, Angwa River),” Farawo said.
He urged the public to exercise extreme caution in these areas and to be alert when engaged in domestic activities to minimise the risk of crocodile attacks.
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In addition to human fatalities, crocodiles also pose a significant threat to livestock.
“In light of these, the authority urges the public to exercise extreme caution around water bodies and remain alert while engaging in domestic activities near these areas to minimise the risk of crocodile attacks,” he said.
“To minimise the risk of conflict with crocodiles, livestock should not be left unattended near rivers or lakes to prevent them from becoming easy targets for crocodiles.”
According to ZimParks, 300 people were killed by wild animals between 2019 and 2024.
In May last year, Environment, Climate and Wildlife minister Sithembiso Nyoni told Parliament that the government was in the process of establishing a human-wildlife conflict relief fund.
Nyoni, however, said there would be no compensation for dead victims.
ZimParks has been struggling to compensate victims of wildlife attacks despite the government having approved a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict in 2022.