HWANGE - A wounded buffalo is reportedly terrorizing residents, with one man narrowly escaping death. The buffalo trampled George Siyachilaba underfoot as he returned from drinking with friends. “I was walking along a footpath when I suddenly heard a strange sound,” he said. “I stopped to investigate, but by that time the buffalo was already advancing towards me.” Last week, the beast, suspected to have a cable wire deeply embedded in one of its legs, also chased two other residents. Wounded game continues to cause havoc mostly in areas along the Zambezi Valley as illegal poaching is on the increase. Two weeks ago, an elephant in Hurungwe, Mashonaland West, killed a white professional hunter. A wounded buffalo also fatally gored Joseph Ncube while he walked along a footpath from Chawara to Nyamhunga in Kariba. A bullet from a heavy calibre rifle was found lodged inside the beast.
Residents have called on the responsible authorities to cull problem game in their areas. It was not possible to get a comment from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management.