Communities beware of stray elephants: Zimparks
A NUMBER of communities in Zimbabwe have been advised to be beware of stray elephant herds which are moving around.
Areas like Zaka, Mutare, Hwange, Bubi and Mbire have numerous herds of elephant, which are feasting on the fields of some of the villagers.
They are also wandering into homesteads. Zimparks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, said they were carrying out awareness campaigns to ensure the safety of humans.
“We have deployed fully-equipped representatives into different communities where they are educating people on how to act, whenever they see animals in their areas.
“We encourage community members not to provoke these animals, they should let them roam without disturbances, so that they do not cause harm to them.
“Our teams are teaching the members about animal behaviour.
“They should avoid moving at night since the animals roam during the night, we have to reduce conflict between the humans and these animals.
“Community members should inform tNational Parks whenever they notice animals roaming in their respective areas.”
Farawo said animals were overpopulated in the national parks.
“Our land is not expanding such as the people’s population and the number of animals, there is a need to depopulate where there are more animals and take the animals to areas where there are less animals.”
Zimbabwe will hold an Elephant Summit this month.
Last year, 72 people were killed by elephants in this country.
ALSO READ:Officer nabbed over $1m ivory
A POLICE officer and his two civilian accomplices landed in the dock over the weekend after they were allegedly found in illegal possession of ivory worth $1 million.
The cop, Bhekhitemba Mathe, and two others – Thando Mpala and Talent Ganya – were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda, who remanded them in custody, to May 20.
Allegations are that on May 4, police received information that the trio was in possession of ivory in Warren Park and was looking for buyers.
They were allegedly given Ganya’s phone number.
It is the State’s case that two of the detectives, who were seized with the matter, called Ganya and posed as buyers.