At least 62 people were killed and 81 others injured in wildlife attacks across Zimbabwe in 2025, as human-wildlife conflict tightened its grip on rural communities, figures from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) show.
The data paint a grim picture: 244 cattle, 39 donkeys and 518 goats were also lost to wild animals during the year, deepening poverty in already vulnerable areas.
ZimParks spokesperson Tamirirashe Mudzingwa said hyenas, crocodiles and elephants were the most dangerous animals involved.
“These figures show the urgent need to scale up preventive measures such as GPS collaring of wildlife, early-warning systems and the establishment of community conservancies,” he said.
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The authority attributes the rise in reported cases to growing wildlife populations and improved reporting by communities.
At Hwange National Park alone, the elephant population is now estimated to exceed 45 000, increasing pressure on surrounding villages.
State broadcaster ZBC reported that residents in high-risk districts say the situation has become unbearable, with families living in constant fear of night attacks and dangerous encounters at water points.
Hwange District Residents Association chairperson Herbert Ncube called for urgent action.
“Boundary fences between communities and national parks must be re-erected. The tourism sector must also play its part.
“We urge residents to limit night movement and be cautious near rivers,” he said.
In response, the government enacted the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act of 2025, which establishes a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Mechanism to compensate and support affected communities.
During the year, 556 so-called problem animals were neutralised as part of mitigation efforts.
While deaths rose from 49 in 2024 to 62 in 2025, injuries declined slightly from 90 to 81. Livestock losses, however, more than doubled from 362 to 801.
Hotspot areas include Kariba, Mbire, Chiredzi, Binga, Hwange, Hurungwe and Nyaminyami, with officials stressing that closer cooperation between communities, parks authorities and the tourism industry is key to saving lives.
