Maputo, 18 Jul (AIM) – At least ten people died in Mutarara district, in the central Mozambican province of Tete, as a result of human-wildlife conflict during the first half of the current year.
Of this number, eight were attacked by crocodiles and two by hippos.
According to the director of the Economic Activities Services in Mutarara, Diaca Quizene, cited by Rádio Moçambique, a total of 12 attacks by crocodiles and three by hippos were recorded, in addition to eight devastations of areas of cultivation of various crops.
Diaca Quizene said a large number of attacks occurred in Nhamayabue administrative post, along the Zambezi River and on islands in the same river.
“What happens is that here the people are more concentrated, and another factor that we cannot rule out is the cultural habit of people wanting to wash their clothes in the river and, while they are there, they are attacked and killed by crocodiles”, he explained.
“This happens a lot during the agricultural season when producers go to farm on the islands”, he explained, adding that “several measures have been taken to minimize the situation, including killing the dangerous animals.”
(AIM)
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