Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management (ZimParks) has recorded a sharp rise in human-wildlife conflicts during the first quarter of 2025, with 18 fatalities and 32 injuries reported nationwide, an official from the wildlife agency has said.
In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said a total of 579 conflict cases were logged between January and March, with the authority responding to all incidents.
Farawo said the most affected districts include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami and Mbire.
Livestock loses have also surged, with communities losing 53 cattle and 85 goats – a significant increase from 18 cattle and 21 goats during the same period last year.
In response, the authority has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 deemed dangerous.
ZimParks has also intensified community engagement programs to educate residents on wildlife behaviour and preventative measures.
“We remain committed to fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. Communities are urged to report incidents promptly using our Problem Animal Control hotlines or through local leaders to help save lives,” said Farawo.
As human-wildlife conflicts escalate, ZimParks continues to call for vigilance and cooperation to mitigate risks in vulnerable regions.
New Ziana
