Seven buffalos killed in Tutume

Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday November 8, 2016 17:45

 

Principal wildlife officer at DWNP, Mbututu Mbututu told Mmegi yesterday that they used various mechanisms to drive the animals away to Ngwasha settlement where there is sufficient water to sustain them. 

“We have also killed a total of seven buffalos as of Wednesday. They were killed in the Tutume area. We surveyed the affected areas on Thursday and Friday and I can assure the public that there is no presence of elephants and buffalos in the respective areas,” Mbututu said. Mbututu added that his department has been working closely with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the police.

“What is also worth noting now is that through our engagements with the veterinary officials, it has emerged that there is no threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD),” he said.

Buffalos are widely known for spreading FMD that mainly affects cattle. Following reports of the presence of buffalos in Tutume and Sepako, there were fears that the government will implement a ban on movement of cloven-hoofed animals. The ban on cloven-hoofed animals is usually implemented when there is a sighting of buffalo to curb the possible spread of the FMD.

A similar move was implemented last year when a buffalo was spotted in Kanye.

The DWNP office in Francistown issued a press release on Monday last week warning members of the public to be on high alert after elephants and buffalos were spotted around Sepako and Tutume. Sepako is 30 kilometres north east of Nata.

The animals were suspected to be from Zimbabwe and the outskirts of Sepako. It was also suspected that they were driven outside their bases by lack of drinking water.

Mbututu also maintained that no injury occurred as a result of the roaming animals.

Elephants are known for destroying properties while buffalos are also often responsible for attacking humans.

In fact, buffalos are very prevalent in Nata and its surroundings. Cases of attacks on humans by buffalos are prevalent in Nata and its environs.

Last year December, a 50-year-old man was brutally injured by a buffalo at Karikajoo cattlepost near Nata in an incident that attracted strong media attention.