NEW ERA (Windhoek, Namibia) 20 October 08 Man-Eaters Cause Anguish (Chrispin Inambao)
Windhoek: Recent weeks have seen an upsurge in human-animal conflict in Caprivi particularly along crocodile-infested stretches of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers where crocs continue to deprive villagers of their most valued earthly possessions - cattle.
Reptilian by nature, these ancient predators with bone-crunching jaws not only kill livestock but are also a source of untold grief to families whose members they catch on the riverside.
The crocodiles catch and feast on large numbers of cattle belonging to rural dwellers resident particularly at settlements stretching from Musanga to Impalila along the Zambezi and from Ngoma to the scenic island of Impalila in the far north-eastern region.
According to Chief Kisko Liswani III who lost two prized beasts from one of his kraals at Isale in the area of Malindi in Kabbe constituency, the crocodiles that seem to have multiplied in numbers are a source of great grief as they have killed many people.
A six-year-old girl was caught and killed by a giant man-eating crocodile at Tom Village in the Schuckmannsburg area on Saturday. Her body is yet to be recovered, said the chief.
In a separate incident along the Zambezi River in the Musanga area outside Katima Mulilo, one person cheated death albeit with serious calf injuries after a crocodile sprung out of the water and took flesh from the victim's calf.
At Mutwi village, another woman who had gone down the river to draw water as part of her household chores also had a lucky escape though she lost her fingers after a crocodile attack.
During the attack, the crocodile dived back into the river only with the fingers of its victim and the metal container that she had intended to draw water with.
He believes the number of cattle and individuals that fall victim to crocodiles is bigger because some of the cases remain unreported by the affected communities.
Chief Liswani III is concerned that previous promises by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to create a game trust fund through which proceeds from culled trouble animals could be paid to the victims' family members has so far not been implemented.
He said the ministry had informed communities in Caprivi that trouble animals such as crocodiles would be hunted by trophy hunters and the money generated paid as compensation to affected communities and surviving family members of those killed.
Man-Eaters Cause Anguish