KATIMA MULILO – In Ngonga and nearby villages – Lizauli, Sachona and Namushasha in Kongola of the Zambezi region – families rose to an eerie silence. By last Wednesday night, word spread of a pride of six lions – two adults and four cubs – having terrorised the bushy and thick areas.
Villagers spoke of four cattle lost to the predators, three devoured entirely, and one carcass mercifully left behind.
Contacted for comment on Friday, Leeverty Muyoba, the environment and tourism Control Warden overseeing Zambezi, acknowledged the tragedy. “Yes, we received a report that four cattle were killed by lions on Wednesday,” said Muyoba.
But after ground checks, Muyoba offered vital clarity: “Three cattle were confirmed dead, and a fourth was found injured, but crucially, these attacks occurred in the forest, not within the village kraals, and the cattle had been out grazing at night.”
By Thursday morning, the pride had slipped across the Kwando River and returned to the safety of Bwabwata National Park.
“The lions swam the Kwando River this morning and are in Bwabwata National Park now,” Muyoba assured the anxious residents.
The control warden then outlined a measured, conservation-first response which includes kraal fortification.
Muyoba said nine livestock enclosures were wrapped securely with durable plastic to obscure cattle from prowling eyes.
The other measure is tracking and warning. To this, he mentioned a GPS collar was fitted to one of the lionesses, enabling real-time alerts to villagers as the pride roamed.
The ministry also attempted translocations of the predators.
According to Muyoba, on 9 May 2025, six lions were moved to Kasimba in Bwabwata East’s Kwando core—but some evaded capture and others returned swiftly, crossing back via the B8 road at Kwando Gate by 13 May.
“A full-scale operation is being prepared to recapture all six lions—including those evading previous efforts—and relocate them deeper into the Omega-3 zone of Bwabwata National Park. This is carefully planned to break the pride’s homing instincts,” Muyoba said.
The park warden assured the ministry’s dual mission to protect communities without resorting to lethal force. He stressed, “Killing wildlife is always a last resort.” Instead, relocation, tracking and community engagement are the top responses.
The control warden urged villagers to report lion sightings swiftly, secure their livestock at night, and avoid venturing into the bush alone, especially at dawn and dusk, when lions are most active.