KAWFT - ALERT - REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF 2 LIONS - WEEKEND OF 9/3/2013
There were two reports over the weekend that another 2 lion had been
seen in two different areas but near the same general area that saw last weeks
happenings.
Please note that whilst these are NOT
proven man eaters, they are WILD ANIMALS
and need to be treated with suspect, alertness and distance.
PARKS & WILDLIFE AUTHORITY – the area Manager for Charara Safari
Area has asked that people be advised to AGAIN
be alert and stay on open roads and not bush paths and avoid thick vegetation.
They are following up on the report as a matter of urgency and have, in
the meantime advised head office, who are also dealing with the matter as fast
as possible.
Should anymore sightings occur, please phone or sms or send “please call
me back” sms to any of the below numbers immediately so follow up can be done
urgently:
Mr Samson Chibaya – Area Manager, Charara Safari Area - 0773507436
KAWFT:
Cavan Warren – 0772 690 915
Debbie Ottman – 0773 996 487 / 061 2764 / 061 2342
Sonya McMaster – 0772 874 352 / 061 /=2488
The email that I received and forwarded about the Lion Deaths in Kariba
contained an incorrect piece of information. This was apparently taken off of
“The Zimbabwean” web site as you can see from the heading.
A Ranger was actually wounded in the follow up and not killed.
I apologies for this.
I cannot, however, check every email that is sent to me and, therefore,
cannot take responsibility for them being 100% true.
Regards
Mike G
Good morning. Within
15 minutes of the the discovery of the lady who had been killed by a bite to
the back of the neck by a lioness we, KAWFT set about contact the experts to
find out if we could dart and remove the guilty lions to safe area area. (Apart
from the bite to the back of the neck she had not been eaten in any way) The
response was a reserved "it was worth a try" We then set about planning
on going this route. In the late afternoon Parks found the second body or bits
and pieces of it. After consulting with experts again we were advised to
euthanise the lion/s concerned. This is what was done. It was handled in a very
professional manner and was over on the second night.
We did not
enjoy what we HAD to do. I appreciate your concerns. There are other factors to
be taken into account as well. Had it just been the lady that died and we had
translocated the lions some of the locals would have been a bit upset at this.
This would not of been a problem and could of been smoothed over. It was not a
factor in the final decision though.
It is a well known
undisputed fact that these lions would of killed again.
The two killings
happened within two to three hundred meters of houses at Mahombekombe not
Chawara.
The lions stayed in
the same area next to houses for 4 days.
I personally saw a
lioness in the Chawara airport area some 3 weeks ago and we did not go on a
killing spree.
In a perfect world we
would all have our own transport (like you and I) and it would not be
necessary for people to take a chance to save many kilometers of walking by
taking short cuts. I hope this helps with your much appreciated concerns.
We at KAWFT apart
from clearing snares also try to help people co-exist with the wild life in
this area. Should you wish to assist in this regard please contact Sonia Mac
Master or Debbie Ottman who will be only to glad to give you our account
details,
Regards
Cavan Warren
(KAWFT)
Kariba
lion deaths blamed on poachers
09.03.13
by
Thabani Dube
An animal welfare organisation in Kariba has
commended the National Parks
and Wildlife Management Authority for putting
down lions that claimed two
human lives in separate attacks over the week,
but blamed poachers for
causing the tragic incidents.
Cavan Warren of the Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust,
in an interview with
The Zimbabwean, blamed the two deaths on
poachers who laid a snare which
injured and infuriated a lioness.
Warren said the pride of three lions, a lioness
and her two sub-adult cubs,
terrorised the Mahombekombe suburb of Kariba
since Monday.
“The large lioness had fresh scars from a snare
on its neck and one of its
back legs was injured. I think it is more than
fair to say that the poacher
that laid the snare was responsible for the
death of the two people and the
subsequent loss of the three lions,” said
Warren.
“We can be rightfully be proud of the
professional manner in the way this
exercise was carried out by Parks and other
interested people involved,” he
added.
“On Tuesday 5 March at approximately mid-day a
report was received that a
lady (Sharon Mahwere, 43) had been killed by a
lion not more than 200 meters
from the houses,” he narrated.
“Just prior to her death she was with a friend
(Daniel Muzarabani) who was
able to get away and then informed the police.
Parks was immediately
dispatched to the scene,” added Warren.
He said KAWFT was informed of the incident by
the Parks Manager for the
Charara Safari Area, which covers Kariba,
Samson Chibaya.
Parks officials who had been searching the area
for the female victim
discovered a second body a (Jazel Meki Musenji,
77) who had been killed on 4
March and had been partially devoured by the
lions.
A goat was sourced from a resident in order to
bait the lions, but there was
no success during the first night.
Parks then launched extensive patrols and
carried out awareness campaigns in
surrounding communities, to prevent further
casualties, while a subsequent
ambush for the animals was carried out but
unfortunately resulted in the
accidental death of a ranger during a shooting
attempt at the canines.
“A crocodile trap was moved on to site and
baited with a dead goat.
At 1400 hours a platform measuring three by one
and a half by three meters
high was erected at a suitable distance from
the croc trap.
Half a zebra carcass was hung two and a half
meters off the ground near the
croc trap,” narrated Warren.
One cub was shot in the evening, while the
other fell into the trap while
the lionesss, which had been evasive, was
killed close to midnight on 7
March.
KARIBA PEOPLE AND LION TRAGEDY
I received a call from a very well known conservationist who
(reading between the lines) was very concerned about the lion saga.
Rumours and news clippings had reached him that up to 7 lions were involved that
might possibly be euthanised.
This is totally incorrect, 3 lions were euthanized only after
experts from Parks and other sources weighed up all the the evidence and the
situation on the ground
These 3 lions were in the immediate area of the deaths of two
humans for 4-5 nights.
They had lost all fear of and had almost totally devoured
the first victim.
At the time of writing there are no more Man Eaters wondering
around and the people involved in this exercise are not on a killing spree !!
However if there are REPEATED sightings of lion in future, in very
close proximity to Kariba town, there will be serious consideration by KAWFT to
approach Parks and Wild life Authority for approval to Dart and remove them
from the area.
The responsibility for the death of the two humans lies squarely
with the person who laid the wire that the lioness had walked into.
Cavan Warren
For
and on behalf of (KAWFT)
Kariba
Animal Welfare Fund Trust
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