Wildlife Conservation Action cuts human-wildlife conflict by 98% in Zimbabwe
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 30
Wildlife Conservation Action cuts human-wildlife conflict by 98% in Zimbabwe
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 30
In Mbire district, its programme spans 2.6 million hectares of the Zambezi valley and protects nearly 18,000 livestock worth an estimated $2.3m.
Founded by conservation biologist Moreangels Mbizah after a fatal lion attack in 2014, WCA uses community guardians, GPS alerts and mobile bomas to prevent predator attacks on herds.
The model aims to reduce retaliatory killings as lions, now fewer than 20,000 across Africa, increasingly leave shrinking habitats and enter rural communities where livestock is central to livelihoods.
With livestock now safe behind plastic walls, what is the long-term impact on the local lion populations themselves?
Beyond saving livestock, how are new conservation roles and technologies reshaping community culture and traditions in rural Zimbabwe?
Now that Zimbabwe has a national HWC relief fund, how will it support community-led prevention over mere compensation?