Lions wreak havoc in Mushumbi Pools.

Sunday Mail Reporter.
June 13, 2010

VILLAGERS in Mushumbi Pools in Mashonaland Central are living in fear after a pride of about 16 lions killed livestock in the area.

Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority are still tracking the predators and are also campaigning for the relocation of the villagers.
Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson Inspector Memory Pamire said five of the lions mauled 12 cattle and two donkeys at a village in Chief Chisunga’s area.
Insp Pamire said the lions struck in Section B of Kanongo village last week before proceeding to Section C where they killed five more cattle.
She said police received a report as the lions headed towards Section A, which has the highest population in the area.
“The lions were spotted in the afternoon but they attacked their prey in the night. Indications are that they moved in the direction of Village A. Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority are still hunting them down,” said one villager.
Insp Pamire said villagers in the area spotted a pride of 16 lions devouring a heifer and two goats in the same area three weeks ago. The whereabouts of these lions is still not known raising fears that they could still be roaming the area.
“Our advice to the people is that they should not move around at night. We are also urging them to make sure that all livestock is kept in secure places at night,” she said.
“Lions can easily attack other animals that roam freely at night.” National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said her organisation is concerned by the increase in the number of human-animal conflict cases.
She said resettlement patterns in some areas should be reviewed to avoid a recurrence of such problems.
“It is worrying that such cases continue to happen. The relevant authorities should intervene and make sure that people are not settled in areas that threaten wildlife,” she said.
Recently lions unleashed a reign of terror in the Kanyemba area in the same province and killed five people. Life in the area virtually came to a standstill as children stopped going to school while adults remained in-doors.

Stray lions on the prowl

Herald Reporter
June 15, 2010

Five lions escaped from Mushumbi Pools Game Park recently and attacked domestic animals in the area, leaving communities surrounding the sanctuary in fear for their lives.

The felines are reported to have killed 12 cattle and two donkeys.

Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati confirmed the attacks which occurred at around 4am on June 2.

Asst Insp Masikati said the livestock belonged to 10 villagers from Kanongo Village under Chief Chisunga in Mushumbi Pools.

He said the 10 villagers made a report at Mushumbi Police Station on the morning of the attack.

"A passer-by saw the lions during the day on the first of June and alerted one villager, Clemence Butau. He immediately alerted the police," Asst Insp Masikati said.

Police referred the matter to National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials in Mushumbi who are understood to be tracking the beasts.

Senior wildlife officer for Bindura, Mr Netsai Chingwenjere, said: "We have our team on the ground and they will secure the situation."

Last month, lions that had also strayed from Mushumbi Pools killed two cattle and five goats.

Asst Insp Masikati advised villagers to be cautious when going about their activities.

"We are encouraging all villagers to exercise extreme caution and not to move at night or too early in the morning.

"Villagers should also take extra care in looking after their livestock to avoid further loss," he said.

Experts say that once a lion tastes human flesh, it acquires a penchant for the meat.

This is because humans are easy to hunt and have virtually no defence mechanisms against the predator unless they are armed.

On July 19, two lions escaped from a private park near Lake Mutirikwi on the outskirts of Masvingo.

The lions were part of a pride of 60 that were abandoned by breeder Mr Ronnie Spurrow about a year ago.

Parks officials recently tracked the cats down and shot them.

This year, several people were killed by lions in Kanyemba.

I was in Africa only once (to establish my "credentials"). My outfitter,himself a licensed PH and also regarded by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Parks and Game {as it was known then}as a "lion man" -meaning he was called in to handle "problem" lions predicted in 1993 to me that sport hunting for lion would be wiped out in 20 years. I expressed surprise (since I heard lions every night when I was in the bush)He said it was because humans will not allow a beast to survive that kills their cattle -and that the lion simply cannot get it through his head that easy kills of cattle brings consequences. Too bad for the farmers -and too bad for Leo.