Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers working together with Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) scouts have killed a lioness that had been terrorising villagers in Mabale area in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province.
Zimparks rangers gunned down the troublesome lioness less than four days after the capture of four sub-adult lions that had wreaked havoc in the Mabale area.
The operation to eliminate the pride took an entire month and included setting up several traps which the lioness evaded.
Zimparks Public Relations Manager Tinashe Fawaro confirmed the killing of the lioness.
Farawo however said the killing of problem animals remains the last option when efforts to capture fail. He said:
Following the capture of four lions last week in Mabale, our officers have managed to eliminate the remaining lion and let me stress that elimination of problem animals is the last option.
We capture lions or any other problem animals before releasing them deep into the national parks.
Capture and translocation remain expensive undertaking and we continue to call upon our partners to come on board and assist.
Dopota Village Head Mr Evans commended Zimparks and its partners for the capture of the four marauding lions and the killing of the remaining lioness.
He said this has brought huge relief to the villagers who were living in fear of the predators.