Stray lions kill 17 cattle in Guruve

Herald Reporter

A PRIDE of lions is on the prowl in the Chipuriro communal lands in Guruve where they have reportedly killed 17 cattle since last weekend.

The lions first descended on Nyamaka and Mubatapasango villages on Saturday night, where they took advantage of the thick riverine vegetation along Mupinge River and killed nine cattle. On Sunday night, the lions attacked and killed seven more cattle near Ruvinga Primary School, imposing a night curfew on frightened villagers. The lions, which are believed to have strayed from Dande South Wilderness and followed Dande and Mupinge rivers in an upstream movement, have also sent gold panners along Mupinge River scampering for cover. On Tuesday they reportedly killed one beast. One of the villagers, Mrs Lucy Chidhau, said they were shocked to wake up on Saturday morning to find several cattle had been killed by lions. "A few villagers heard the roaring of the lions as they attacked five kraals in a row but the rest of the villagers heard nothing since the kraals are located away from the homesteads. "We are close to Mupinge River which has thick vegetation and we suspect that the lions came from Dande Wilderness where they roam wild and free,’’ she said. Another villager, Mr Innocent Mubatapasango, who lost four cattle to the lions, said his kraal was located away from his home and he only discovered the attack on Sunday morning. "One of the cattle had its intestines eaten while the other three were completely devoured, leaving only the skull and horns. "Two years ago we had a similar attack but only three cattle were killed. Last year a pride of lions killed several goats in neighbouring Gweshe Village,’’ he said. "I have four cattle that were devoured by these lions on Saturday. The only thing that I know is that the pride of lions is coming from the forest along the Mupinge River,’’ he said. Villagers are now living in fear of the lions, which are only seen at night and retreat into the thicket during the day.

Just doing what lions do naturally. Killing and eating. Almost sounds like the Ghost and the Darkness. . . .With a little time, maybe.

Let's here it for the lions!

now if we could only train them to eat uncle bob

When one poaches there food, then the lions takes what is left...

Mike

Parks have issued a permit for a safari operator to take some of these lions to help the council pay compensation.

NOT my scene at all- I will not do the hunt, but 5 pernmits have been issued and the lions are being pre - baited to hold them. Asking price this morning (from the operator) was US$10,000 for one of the 4 scruffy males with the group and double that for the MGM model that has been hanging arround the edge (obviosly odds of 4:1 are too great even if you do have a leker mane) PM me and I'll send you the operators details if this realy interests you

BTT