BY EDIFY HOVE: Women residing in Birthday surburb in Zvishavane say they are living in fear as baboons are wreaking havoc in their area, snatching babies.
In an interview, some of the women said the baboons used to come for food but now they snatch babies too.
They narrated two incidents where residents had to run after the baboons to recover babies who had been snatched by the problem animals.
“The baboons used to snatch food stuffs, but nowadays they are snatching children. We no longer leave our babies unattended,” said one Chiedza Shumba.
Another woman who identified herself a Mai Moyo added that one of her friends had her child taken by baboons and residents had to chase after the baboons so as to recover the baby.
“My friend’s baby had to be hospitalised after being attacked by a baboon. We are now living in fear,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, has often attributed the human-wildlife conflict to resource competition between growing human and wildlife populations.
Baboons are classified as problem animals because of their behaviour, and so are hyenas and jackals.
Baboons and hyenas have of late been making headlines in the media for terrorising urban residents and villagers, with the latest case of Chirumhanzu where a hyena dragged a man out of his hut and devoured him.
In most cases however, women and children are often the victims as they are easy prey.
In urban areas baboons often break into houses or destroy rooftops, doors, windows and vehicles, whilst in rural areas baboons often destroy crops and prey on chickens and goats.