Zimbabwean wildlife authorities euthanized a stray lion on Sunday after it killed four cattle and prompted safety concerns in the Mutsago area of Marange, officials said, amid rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) located the lion, suspected to have wandered from the nearby Save Conservancy, following days of tracking efforts hindered by its nocturnal habits.
The animal was neutralized on Sunday night, according to ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo.
“After days of trauma and panic within the community, we finally managed to eliminate the problem animal. 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 said.
The incident follows recent clashes involving stray buffaloes in Mutare and Buhera districts, where six people, including a schoolchild, were injured. One buffalo was euthanized in Marange last week.
Three victims were attacked near Dune Primary School in Buhera South’s Ward 28, while three others, including the child, sustained injuries in separate encounters in Mutsago, under Chief Marange’s jurisdiction.
Farawo urged residents to avoid confronting stray wildlife and to report sightings to trained rangers, emphasizing that these professionals are best equipped to manage the situation safely and effectively.
He also warned against traveling on foot at night in affected areas, as doing so increases the risk of wildlife encounters.
