The extremely hot weather in the Binga district of the Zambezi Valley in northern Zimbabwe reminded 47-year-old Patrick Mutale of how a lion killed his two calves in 2016 when his face was distorted with pain. 

Just a year later, in 2017, the hyena ate his 15 goats.

Mutalai, a small farmer in Gande Village, Binga 5th District, Northern Province of Matabeleland, still cannot understand the loss. 

Wild animals have become a real threat to communities that share borders with protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries, especially for the 16,000 people living in zones 3, 4, and 5. 

They are more threatening than common livestock diseases.

"When I heard the sound of animals outside, it was already around 11 o'clock in the evening. I went to check and helplessly watched hyenas eating and drinking on the carcasses of my 15 goats. Because I was afraid of being attacked, I could do nothing. ," Mutale said. 

"In the past, we were not threatened by wild animals, but now the number of wild animals in some places is increasing, and we live in fear every day." 

Mutale attributed the loss of his calves and goats to poor sheepdogs who did not provide adequate protection to the animals. 

His goats and cows are locked in a fence (or kraal) made of wooden poles, which have gaps so that predators can easily see what's inside. 

The nature of these structures in Binga encourages predators to attack.

In the Mbier district of the central Mashonaland province, two people were recently killed by elephants, one was bitten by a snake, and one was reportedly killed by a hippopotamus. 

The four cases were reported by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Service (ZimParks).

“In Zimbabwe, cattle, goats and donkeys have disappeared in the past three years, and crops on nearly 7,000 hectares of land have been destroyed,” said Zimbabwe’s spokesperson Tinash Falawo.

For most rural residents in Zimbabwe, livestock is mainly a form and a measure of wealth. 

Most families own goats, cows, sheep, and chickens and rely on these for food, good nutrition and livelihoods.

Losing animals leads to loss of wealth and may increase food insecurity.

  The community of District 5, adjacent to two protected areas, Chizarira National Park and Sijarira Forest, has been at risk of wildlife attacks. 

Elephants, hyenas and lions are common. They roam around, often killing livestock and destroying crops.

Since January 2021, the Problem Animal Control Unit of the Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) has reported and handled more than 68 cases of human wildlife conflicts. 

Two people were killed, one was killed by an elephant and the other was killed by a crocodile. Despite numerous reports of animals destroying crops and killing livestock, BRDC local authorities have limited resources to respond to all requests in a timely manner.

"People feel pain and frustration with stray animals, especially elephants, lions and hyenas, and want to shoot them. However, this is illegal and not the best solution, but it emphasizes the urgent need to find effective ways to make animals. Stay away from people’s livestock and crops,” said BRDC CEO Joshua Muzamba. 

"If properly managed, wild animals can be used sustainably, benefiting local communities through tourism businesses, cash income and food security."

In positive development, these tragic experiences may now be a thing of the past, or at least, the threat will be minimized under the intervention of the EU-funded Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) program. 

The SWM program provided 10 anti-predator mobile bombas for three wards.

  Anti-predator movement boma is a fence made of opaque material that blocks the sight of predators so that they cannot attack livestock without actually seeing the animals.

This contribution is part of the SWM program of the Kawango-Zambezi (KaZa) Transboundary Reserve, which aims to promote the sustainable use of natural resources through community protection, including wildlife, fisheries and forests. 

"When we lose a lot of livestock, the SWM plan introduces anti-predator mobile bomas in our community. Given the economic difficulties in our country, raising funds to purchase alternative cows or goats is a major challenge," another from District 3 Said a farmer, Joyce Mpande.

The anti-predator mobile bomas donated by SWM are 24 meters long and can accommodate a herd of 15 to 17 animals.

Currently, anti-predator mobile bomas are used in rotation, and farmers pass it every three months. 

In view of the farmers' appreciation for the help of the anti-predator mobile boma, it is expected that farmers will purchase their own anti-predator mobile boma to continue to protect the safety of their livestock. 

If the farmer fails, he/she will put his livestock in a safe improved corral.

Compared with ordinary kraal, Predatorproof mobile bomas has many advantages.

A predator-proof mobile boma can stay in one place for several months, thereby increasing soil fertility and preventing soil erosion. 

The poles cut to build the stalls are harmful to the environment. 

  “When farmers use corrals or fences, lions will frighten cows or goats. In this chaos, they will break in and attack, or livestock will erupt and be attacked. SWM project technical assistant Maxwell Phiri said: “The situation is different , The anti-predator moving boma provides complete cover, so predators cannot see what's inside, so they won't break in. "

"Thanks to the SWM program, we are satisfied with this initiative. In addition to protecting our livestock from predators, we are also improving the soil fertility of the land where the predator-resistant boma is located," Mutale said.

"Improving soil fertility is particularly important for local communities so that they can increase the production of corn and other crops in areas where production is declining."

The SWM program is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the French International Agricultural Research Center for Development (CIRAD), the International Forestry Research Center (CIFOR) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). 

In Zimbabwe, activities are carried out jointly by CIRAD and the government. The plan aims to restore the balance between food security and wildlife protection, which is necessary to create a world free of poverty and hunger.

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