`Coldness` hits anti-lion battle

2007-04-22 10:39:11
By Augustine Chindiye, PST, Tunduru


Marauding man-eating lions have disrupted economic activities and caused apprehension among residents of Tunduru District in Ruvuma Region.

However, the wildlife authorities in the area have expressed dismay after learning that the residents were not willing to co-operate to resolve the problem.

Tunduru Wildlife Officer, Dickson Koishwa, informed PST that his office learnt about lack of enthusiasm among the residents when game officers deployed from his office were given a cold shoulder at Mchoteka village while searching for a lion that had killed a villager, Hashim Said, (18).

Koishwa said staff in his office were deeply upset by reports of continuous loss of people`s lives and domestic animals , through being attacked and being eaten by lions.

The most recent incident reported in our office is the killing of a young man in the village identified as Hashim that took place last Saturday. His body was discovered by villagers with some parts missing.

He was obviously eaten by a lion,`` Koishwa explained.He said the Wildlife Department responded immediately by deploying armed officers to work closely with the villagers to chase the lions. However, the officers were in for a surprise.

Strategies drawn up by game officers to help track and kill the prowling lions were not well received by the villagers,`` he said, noting that the villagers were indifferent.

Clarifying the seriousness of the problem, Koishwa said at least one person, goat or cattle is eaten every day in Tunduru District, adding that some of the incidents were not officially reported.

He named Matemanga, Maji Maji, Nakapanya and Nalasi as the hardest hit areas . ``So far five head of cattle and 23 goats have been killed in Maji Maji area, since early March this year,`` the officer explained.

The ferocious nature of the lions also surprised the officers, he said. ``They kill ducks, chicken, cats, and tear mattresses and clothes once they raid a house and don`t chance to pounce on human beings,`` one of them said.

SOURCE: Sunday Observer