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The Herald, 9 February 2011

THE councillor for Ward Six, Clr Joseph Itani Muleya, who is also the Beitbridge Rural District Council chairperson of the natural resources management committee, said hyenas have been terrorising villagers since last year.

He also said elephants were reportedly destroying crops in several areas, while the hyenas were killing livestock in Ward Six.

“Last year between January and December, hyenas killed a total of 272 donkeys, 76 head of cattle and 344 goats in Ward Six, which includes Umzingwane, River Ranch and Makakavhule villages.

“We recently hired officials from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to assist in controlling these marauding animals, but our coffers have run dry and we are now appealing for more funding to fight the on-going onslaught.

“You will realise that Beitbridge district is a wild animal area and hence the need to urgently address the problem considering the rate at which our livestock is being killed as we watch helplessly,” Clr Muleya said.

He said crops in Wards One, Two, Three, Four, Six and 14 were also being destroyed by stray elephants from neighbouring Kruger National Park.

The affected areas include Tshikwalakwala, Tshitulipasi and Tshamaswiswi.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over space and food, hence the need for people to ensure that they do not disturb natural habitats.

People lose their crops, livestock, property, and sometimes their lives. The animals, many of which are already endangered, are often killed in retaliation or to “prevent” future conflicts.

Although people and wildlife have co-existed for thousands of years, the current  conflicts are now more frequent, serious and widespread and a global concern for environmentalists and conservationists.

Human fatalities and injuries, although less common than crop damage, are the most severe manifestations of human wildlife conflicts and are universally regarded as intolerable.

Seven years ago, hyenas caused mayhem in Buhera to the extent of attacking people in broad- daylight.