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The Zambian government has raised concerns over the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict across the country, which has resulted in the deaths of four people in just the past four days.
Ministry of Tourism Public Relations Officer, Nathalie Mashikolo, attributed these fatalities to personal negligence and a failure to adhere to the rules of national parks.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Lusaka, Mashikolo emphasized that many people were not following wildlife protection protocols, which had contributed to the recent deaths.
She explained that the rise in wildlife-induced conflicts, particularly those involving elephants, had led to fatalities or serious injuries across Zambia.
Mashikolo specifically pointed to a worrying increase in elephant-related incidents over the past four days.
“The Ministry through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife has further observed with great concern that most of the recorded elephant-induced incidents are purely caused by a lack of precautionary personal safety measures,” Mashikolo said.
She also expressed regret that many people continue to disregard national park rules and the ethics of wildlife protected areas.
Mashikolo identified several hotspots for human-wildlife conflict to be Itezhi-Tezhi, where 54-year-old Ernest Katema was killed, as well as Chipangali and Livingstone districts.
“All these and similar incidents are regrettable and could have been otherwise avoided had individuals adhered to wildlife protected area ethics and the rules of avoiding walking at night and molesting elephants, which is a legal offense under the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015,” Mashikolo stated.
She reassured the public of government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of human life and property.
Mashikolo also mentioned that the government would prioritise the implementation of safeguards and mitigation measures to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and foster better coexistence in conflict-prone areas.
“However, it should be stated that for an effective mitigation strategy to work, a holistic approach is needed, involving the government, stakeholders, partners, and all Zambian citizens,” she emphasised.
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