Recently hyenas killed five goats and two kids belonging to Virginia Chibanda (39) of Chakurungama village. The livestock had been left in the custody of her children when she visited her husband at his workplace in Mutoko.
Another villager, Alice Bhasikoro (52) lost seven goats over three months. “This is a big loss as livestock is a key asset in rural areas,” said Bhasikoro, who lives with two grandchildren.
She said the hyenas cunningly removed the poles making up the walls of the kraal by digging them out before scaring the livestock out. “They kill the goats by disemboweling them, before dragging them away,” said Bhasikoro. Peter Chakurungama, a village headman, said they had notified the District Administrator’s office in Mutoko.
“People have begun mounting night vigils with alarm bells made from metal objects to scare the hyenas away,” he said. An official with the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said such cases were isolated but promised “to make investigations”.
Post published in: News