Cavan Warren a resident and Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust told The Zimbabwean that the blame of the two deaths goes to the poacher that laid a snare which left the lioness injured.
Warren said a pride of three lions, a very big lioness and her two sub-adult cubs caused havoc in the Mahombekombe suburb since Monday.
“The large lioness had fresh scars from a snare on its neck and one of its back legs was injured. I think it is more than fair to say that the poacher that laid the snare was responsible for the death of the two people and the loss of the three lions,” said Warren.
However, Warren said it was gratifying to witness the high level of cooperation between the various parties involved in this tragic sequence of events.
“We can be rightfully be proud of the professional manner in the way this exercise was carried out by Parks and other interested people involved,” he said.
Warren said the lion problem started on 4 March until yesterday 8.
“On Tuesday 5 March approximately midday a report was received that a lady (Sharon Mahwere 43) had been killed by a lion not more than 200 meters from the houses,” he narrated adding that:
“Just prior to her death she was with a friend (Daniel Muzarabani) who was able to get away and informed the police. Parks was immediately dispatched to the scene,” added Warren.
He said KAWFT his organisation was informed of the incident by the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority area manager for Charara Safari Area, which covers Kariba, Samson Chibaya.
“As the lady had not been eaten in anyway KAWFT set about asking advice from well known experts if it was worth our while to move these lions to a safer area. The experts said if the lions had not attempted to devour the victim then yes it would be the best course,” he was told.
In the meantime, said Warren, Parks officials had been searching the area the lady had been killed in and found the remains of a second body and first victim (Jazel Meki Musenji 77) who had been killed on 4 March and almost totally eaten.
“This meant that all the lions involved had to be euthanized as quickly as possible. We sourced a goat from Mr P Kalera in Kariba and handed it in to Parks who used it for bait but had no luck on the first night,” said Warren.
On Wednesday 6 march he said patrols were carried out by Parks and a big exercise was carried out to inform all the public in Kariba to keep off the pathways.
“That night Parks set up an ambush on a very well chosen site and did have a sighting and a few shots were fired. One parks guy was injured in the attempt,” he said.
Warren added that On Thursday, a high ranking Parks official arrived from Chinhoyi and together with Chibaya and other professional people formulated a plan to sort the problem out once and for all.
“A crocodile trap was moved on to site and baited with a dead goat. At 1400 hours a platform measuring three by one and a half by three meters high was erected at a suitable distance from the croc trap. Half a zebra carcass was hung two and a half meters off the ground near the croc trap,” narrated Warren.
He said by 1530 hours Thursday all people not involved in the actual watch and shoot were moved off the site.
“At 2054 hours that night the first shot was fired and 15 minutes later we were informed by radio that one cub had been shot and one cub was in the trap,” he said
“The mother lion, which was very large, had yet to be dealt with, and was proving very difficult and would not show herself,” added Warren.
He said just after 2300 hours about three or four gun shots rang out and 15 minutes later an announcement was made again through radio.
“We were informed that the large female lioness had been dealt with. The sub adult in the croc trap had also been euthanized after due consideration. We then shut down for the night,” explained Warren.
Warren said the next early morning (Friday 8 March) a search was conducted and the one cub and its mother were found dead not more than 40 meters from where they had been shot.
Meanwhile, Chibaya said the cats had been elusive and were three and not five as people suggested.
“We killed the three lions because they had tasted human blood. The lioness had a wire snare injury around its neck, suggesting it could no longer hunt active and fast prey. This could be the reason why it targeted people, who are easy prey,” he said.
According to reports from Kariba, on Friday business came to a standstill in the mountainous border town surrounded by Lake Kariba infested with crocodiles and unfenced game parks characterized by all sought of beast and wild animals, as residents, school children and business people thronged the streets while the Parks authorities paraded the dead lioness and her cubs, as assurance that indeed the pride had been dealt with.
Post published in: News