A SURGE in crocodile attacks has put communities living near water bodies on high alert.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Parks Authority) reported a disturbing increase in fatalities from crocodile attacks, resulting in nine deaths and 11 injured in the last two months.
According to Parks Authority, at least 44 cattle and 60 goats were killed during the period, with 49 human-crocodile conflict cases reported.
An additional 16 cases were recorded in the Matopo, Harare, north west Matabeleland and south east Lowveld regions.
The authority has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the rainy season.
“Communities must make sure livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes to prevent them from becoming easy targets,” the Parks Authority warned.
The authority also emphasised the importance of taking safety precautions when engaging in water activities, such as fishing and swimming.
“It is essential to barricade the places to ensure safety,” the Parks Authority advised.
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This is not the first time that crocodile attacks have made headlines in Zimbabwe.
In 2020, a 12-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile while swimming in a dam in Mashonaland West province.
In 2019, a fisherman was attacked and killed by a crocodile in Lake Kariba.
The human-crocodile conflict is a recurring problem in Zimbabwe, particularly in areas where humans and crocodiles share the habitats.
The conflict is often exacerbated by human activities such as fishing, farming and settlement expansion, which encroaches onto crocodile habitats.
