Staff Reporter
THE Kavango East and Zambezi regions have experienced the highest number of human-wildlife conflicts resulting in injuries and fatalities since 2019.
This information was revealed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism’s Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management. The report disclosed that 36 people lost their lives due to human-wildlife conflicts since 2019, while 56 people sustained injuries during the same period.
Out of the 36 deaths, 14 occurred in the Kavango East Region and 12 in the Zambezi Region. The Kavango West and Kunene regions each reported four deaths caused by wildlife, while the Omusati and Khomas regions had one wildlife-related death each during the same period.
Crocodile and hippopotamus attacks were identified as the primary reasons for wildlife-related deaths. The report further revealed that 16 of the 36 deaths were caused by crocodile attacks, while 13 were caused by hippopotamus attacks. The remaining wildlife-related deaths were attributed to elephants (6) and baboons (1).
Of the 56 recorded wildlife-related injuries since 2019, 24 were reported in the Kavango East Region and 14 in the Zambezi Region. The Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management also revealed that six wildlife-related injuries occurred in the Kavango West Region, five in the Omaheke Region, three in the Erongo Region, and two in the Kunene Region. The Oshana and Otjozondjupa regions reported one wildlife-related injury each.
Crocodiles and hippopotamuses were also found to be the leading cause of wildlife-related injuries. Since 2019, the Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management reported, 18 people were injured by hippos, 17 by crocodiles, ten by leopards, seven by buffaloes, three by lions, and one by an elephant.
File photo for illustrative purposes only.
