ZIM-Man survives lion attack

16 December 2010, 00:38

Man survives lion attack

By Siphiwe Makonese

From The Chronicle
December 15, 2010

AN attempt by a 38-year-old Tsholotsho man to snare stray lions backfired when one of the trapped cats broke loose and attacked him.
The officer Commanding Crime and operations in Lupane District, Chief Superintendent Obert Ngirazi confirmed the incident, which occurred on Thursday at about 4pm. Chief Supt Ngirazi said the two lions had wrecked havoc in the area and villagers were trying to capture them.
“Two lions strayed from Hwange National Park into Gwenga village, Sipepa, where they attacked three donkeys and ate part of the carcasses,” said Chief Supt Ngirazi.
“Some Gwenga villagers, in the belief that the lions would come back, gathered the remaining carcasses and surrounded the place with snares.
“On Friday, Washington Njuta aged 38, of Gwenga line and three others went to their traps and found two lions trapped and started throwing stones at them.
“One of the trapped lions broke loose and advanced towards them and seriously attacked Njuta who suffered a broken collarbone and sustained multiple wounds on the shoulder,” said Supt Ngirazi.
He said the lion then ran away into the bush and the matter was reported to the police.
Njuta was taken to Sipepa Clinic where he was referred to Tsholotsho District Hospital and later Mpilo Central Hospital for further treatment.
Chief Supt Ngirazi said Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials were advised.
“We advised the parks officials who came and shot dead the remaining trapped lion and they are now tracking the one that ran away,” he said.
Chief Supt Ngirazi said when people discover stray wild animals, they should avoid provoking them and instead advise parks officials or report the matter to the police.
He also said trapping animals was a chargeable offence under the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Meanwhile, efforts to locate Njuta at Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals were fruitless yesterday.