Stray lions terrorise Mushumbi Pools

Herald Reporter
May 17,2010

Villagers around Mushumbi Pools are living in fear after a pride of lions killed two cattle and five goats.

In an interview last week, Mashonaland Central police provincial spokesperson Inspector Memory Pamire said the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority had been engaged to track down the beasts.

She said two weekends ago, Mr Ezekiel Chimbare was awakened by noise coming from his kraal.

He got up and saw a pride of lions attacking his livestock.

"He alerted other villagers who scared away the lions. In the morning, they discovered that the lions had killed cattle and goats."

The case was reported at Mushumbi Pools Police Station.

Insp Pamire said they suspected the lions had strayed from Mushumbi Pools Game Park.

"We have launched an operation to track down the lions with the assistance of the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority," she said.

The incident follows another attack by lions in Kanyemba where five people were killed.

Police, national parks game rangers and Kanyemba Rural District Council officials tracked down the felines and killed them.

Police have, however, urged people living near animal-infested areas to avoid travelling at night and report any attacks as soon as possible.

Experts say injured or old lions are more likely to attack humans than their fit counterparts because people are easy prey.

It is also said lions easily acquire a taste for human flesh.