CONFLICT between wildlife and humans continues to escalate along the Save River Basin after a 30-year-old man was trampled to death by two elephants believed to have strayed from the nearby Save Conservancy which hosts The Big Five.
Manicaland is home to one of the biggest rivers, Save River, where animals which stray from the conservancy and other dry areas scavenge for greener pastures and drinking water.The double fence between Save Conservancy and the adjacent community was destroyed, and no one seems to be taking the initiative to repair it as conservancy owners blame villagers for vandalising the fence, creating an unideal situation.
Zimbabwe National Parks (ZimParks) spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the death of Kudakwashe Mazarire (30) of Birchenough Bridge after being attacked by two stray elephants from Save Conservancy.
Mr Farawo said they have since killed one of the jumbos, but the one which actually killed Mazarire is still at large.
He said officers from ZimParks are on the ground tracking the animal to eliminate it.
“I can confirm the death of Kudakwashe Mazarire of Birchenough Bridge after he was attacked by an elephant on his way to a meat sharing event. It was a rare attack in that he was killed by the elephant in the afternoon. Under normal circumstances, wild animals attack people during the night. This attack happened on July 27.
“The elephant which killed Mazarire is yet to be found, and our officers are on the ground tracking it with the aim of killing it. The elephants were raiding crops in Makazwei area,” said Mr Farawo.
Mr Farawo said the El Nino-induced drought might have forced the animals out of their captivity early.
“Normally these animals escape during the drier season in search of food and water. It often happens from September up until the advent of the rainy season. As temperatures sour, they run to the rivers where it is cooler,” he said.
A resident of Birchenough Bridge, Mr Soyapai Sithole said they are now living in fear after the two stray jumbos were spotted in the area last week.
“We are no longer safe because more wild animals are likely to escape from their conservancies in search of food due to this drought. It is strange that these animals are invading our area during winter. They usually come out when it is hot and in most cases harmless because they will be looking for water,” he said.
The past decade has seen communities in the province residing close to the national parks bearing the brunt of human wildlife conflict.Dozens of villagers and communal farmers have died, lost livestock and crops as a result of wildlife-related and climate change practices.
About 35 people were killed, while 80 were injured by wild animals last year.
The country is facing one of its worst droughts in many years after climate change effects in the region, and President Mnangagwa has since pronounced a state of national disaster. Manica Post
