Farmers kill stray lion

A LION that mauled 15 heads of cattle in Itezhi Tezhi district has been killed after farmers mobilised themselves and descended on the beast. The cattle farmers in Chief Musungwa’s area got incensed when the marauding lion, went loose eating their livestock. Itezhi Tezhi District Commissioner (DC) Hendrix Kaimana, confirmed that one lion from a pride was killed by angry mob, mainly livestock farmers in Makuzu area.  Mr Kaimana said that the lion had escaped from the Kafue National Park, although farmers said that the number could be more. The livestock farmers killed the lion which had killed 15 heads of cattle in Makuzu and Makona area.  However, the DC said the farmers should not have killed the beast as it was part of wildlife that contributed revenue in the tourism sector for the Government.  “A lion is a valuable asset and its loss is a loss of revenue for the Government,” Mr Kaimana added. While sympathising with the farmers who lost livestock, the DC reminded them that lions were protected species. He said that there was need for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to be responding on time to prevent such incidences.  And Chief Musungwa of the Ila people said that the beasts could be escaping from Kafue National Park into Nkala Game Management Area because of the growing lion population.  The traditional leader said the population of the lions in Kafue National Park had increased and that there was need to increase a hunting quarter in order to crop them.  Estimating there could be about 100 lions in the park near his chiefdom, the traditional leader appealed to Government to reconstruct a fence to prevent wild animals from straying into human settlements. “In olden days there used to be a wire fence separating the park and human settlements. We need an electric fence that will prevent these animals from straying into our villages,” Chief Musungwa said.  Meanwhile, Namalongo Fauna who is headman Mumpizyo said his subjects did not want people to be killing lions but that as long as there was no fence, such incidences would be happening.  “Cattle ranching is the sole source of income for us here and to continue losing cattle because of stray lions is unfortunate,” Mr Namalongo said. Mr Namalongo who is former Police Commissioner said that last year they lost 20 head of cattle from lion attacks in the same area while elephants had also been a constant threat in the area. – ZANIS The Sun