By Staff Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) says between the months of January and November 2025 a total of 261 cases of human –wildlife conflict were recorded calling for the urgent need for water tight measures to ease the escalating challenges.
Speaking on the developments ZimParks acting public relations manager, Tamirirashe Mudzingwa, said rising competition for natural resources, driven by climate change and population growth, continued to push people and wildlife into dangerous proximity.
“Rising resource scarcity driven by climate change and population growth remains the major underlying cause of conflict.As a result, humans and wildlife move into closer proximity with each other, increasing interactions and the probability of hostile encounters.”
The conflicts were most prevalent in Hwange, Victoria Falls, Binga, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Mabale, Gwayi and Jambezi.
Elephants, lions, buffalos, crocodiles and hippopotamuses were among the species most involved in the incidents.
Mudzingwa said unsafe fishing methods, fetching water in rivers, and night-time movement in wildlife-prone areas were leading contributors to attacks.
Some cases also resulted from the deliberate provocation of wild animals.
To curb the rising cases, ZimParks has rolled out multiple interventions.
“We are conducting awareness campaigns, supporting community livelihood projects such as nutritional gardens, and fencing properties,” Mudzingwa said.
“We are also using geofencing tools like Earth Ranger and working with community guardians, who act as whistle-blowers when animals wander into human settlements.”
He added that rapid response teams were activated depending on the urgency and gravity of each case.
-AMH
