Tinotenda Hove

A lion that had been terrorizing villagers in Mutsago, Marange, Mutare District, was shot and killed by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers on Sunday night. The lion, believed to have strayed from the nearby Save Conservancy, had killed four cattle over a three-week period, leaving villagers living in fear.

“We finally managed to eliminate the problem animal,” said Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks spokesperson. “It had killed four cattle over the past three weeks… Lions are nocturnal, so they move at night, making it challenging for us to track and eliminate the animal quickly.”

Farawo thanked the local community and stakeholders for their cooperation in bringing the situation under control. “We would like to extend our gratitude to the community for collaborating with us and working closely with our team,” he said. “Through our collective efforts, we have restored peace in the area.”

This incident follows recent wildlife-related dangers in Manicaland Province, including stray buffaloes injuring six people in Mutare and Buhera districts. ZimParks’ efforts to protect both humans and wildlife are ongoing.