Windhoek
Marauding elephants and lions are wreaking havoc in the Sesfontein areas in the Kunene Region, with several villagers reporting that they have lost livestock to lions on the loose.
Kunene Regional Governor Angelika Muharukua yesterday said lions killed and devoured a donkey this past weekend and went on to kill goats and cattle at Okotjituezu village. Muharukua also said a cattle-herder narrowly escape an attack at a village nearby, as the lions were devouring the carcass of the donkey that the man was using for transport.
She said the incidents took place over the past weekend and her office is busy compiling a report to send to the relevant authorities. “The villagers are angry. They are on my neck, but my hands are currently tied. There is nothing I can do,” she said.
According to her, with the ongoing drought in the region if these animals are not controlled, they will finish off the villagers’ remaining livestock. She said many villagers are scared of killing wildlife, especially with all the publicity surrounding the protection of wildlife, as they do not want to be arrested or fined.
Muharukua said elephants and lions continue to cause problems for villagers, especially in places adjoining Etosha National Park and noted that on many occasions in the past such incidents were reported to Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) officials, but nothing was done. “Every time they come they just confiscate villagers firearms,” Muharukua remarked.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said his office had not been informed of any animals causing havoc in the said area. However, he urged villagers to report any incident of that nature to the nearest MET offices in the area.
“Please tell them to go to our nearest offices and report the incidents immediately,” Shifeta advised.