Intervention is needed to protect and preserve wildlife corridors in Zimbabwe, according to the parks authority.
The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said there is a need to craft a proper model of managing cases of human wildlife conflict as communities are now blocking wildlife corridors in the country.
According to ZimParks Conservation Committee member Cephas Mudenda the land resettlement programme has resulted in some communities finding themselves resettled in wildlife corridors. He said that in order to avoid further loss of human life, government needs to craft proper conservation models.
“There is need for the government to revisit land use planning to reduce cases of human wildlife conflict in the KAZA Transfrontier conservation area. While some animals have changed routes in some cases, proper models of managing the situation should be crafted,” said Mudenda.
Traditional leader Chief Siansali of Binga said the current situation also requires the government to revisit the campfire model to ensure that individuals who become victims of human wildlife conflict are compensated for their losses.
Conservationists in the country are also wary of the illegal wildlife trade and poaching. They said the community and the law enforcement system should join forces to curb incidents of poaching.