The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has denied allegations from some sections of society that it has failed to address the human-crocodile conflicts in some parts of the country.
ZAWA Public Relations Officer Wilfred Moonga said it was wrong to accuse ZAWA of failing to address the human-crocodile conflict.
Mr. Moonga told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that ZAWA should not be blamed for crocodile attacks because the authority has been warning people against drawing water from crocodile infested rivers and lakes.
He said some members of the public have been ignoring the warning hence continued incidents of people being attacked by crocodiles.
He said people need to understand that once they heed to ZAWA’s sensitization messages against drawing water from crocodile infested rivers and lakes, the human-crocodile conflicts will reduce.
ZANIS
ZAWA, just wipe out all the Male crocs…i think thet are a problem!
Mr Monnga must shut up.. He must understand that people need drinking water and how to draw water when the reptiles are controlling the lakes and rivers?? You (Moonga) must know how to prevent this incident by way of action NOT lipservice. e.g keeping them out of the places villagers draw water.. slot some of the reptiles to control the number. Provide wells for the villagers etc.. DO NOT DO THIS is not a solution. Take measures that will benefit the villagers. In return they won’t be able to risk their lives.
If these people don’t have any other alternative sources of water, where does this ZAWA officer expect them to go? Does he expect villagers to be trooping to cities to buy bottled water (MANZI)? These attacks are a cry for something to be done about this problem. You can’t, as a govt, continue losing citizens to these attacks and not do anything about it—-it is wrong!
By the way, are crocs endangered and so protected by law? If not allow people to shoot these monsters to control their #s so they don’t overwhelm their natural sources of food (fish and the like). They are resorting to killing people for food because maybe they are starving. Usually, crocs are very shy animals; they will mostly avoid conflict with humans whenever possible.
You might have a point # 3. How many crocs do we have in these rivers and lakes? It’s time to balance the food chain by cropping some of these crocs. As for this Moonga fellow, this statement does not make any sense. Where are these people supposed to draw water from, when there is no other alternative. Why don’t the provide bore holes and clean drinking water in those areas? Oops! I forgot, they must be waiting for a donor to do that for them. Lunacy!!
MMD are just good at selling industries …they can not even provide water facilities for a community it is a shame that the people have to take a risk drawing water in a crocodile infested area. I bet if they had a borehole in this area and it was developed …MMD would sell the area and the crocodiles to the South Africans.