Frequent movement of wild animals has destroyed 237 hectares of food crops since January in the Cahora Bassa district of Tete province, directly affecting multiple farming families and deepening losses in the agricultural sector, according to Rádio Moçambique.
Beyond damage to fields, the human-wildlife conflict has also claimed the lives of 11 people over the same period, underscoring the scale of impact that wildlife encroachment continues to have on local communities.
The losses recorded since the start of the year stem from recurring incursions by wild animals into agricultural production areas, compromising a range of food crops. The destruction has directly affected numerous farming households, which have seen portions of their output wiped out by animal attacks.
Faced with this situation, district authorities have acknowledged the need to reduce the impact of conflict between communities and wildlife. Cahora Bassa district administrator Mendes Cardoso stated that measures are ‘under way to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict, including community awareness campaigns.’
According to the official, community sensitisation forms part of a broader set of actions being implemented to reduce the risks associated with the coexistence of local populations and wild animals.
Human-wildlife conflict continues to present a challenge across several regions of the country. In April, Prime Minister Benvinda Levi called for the adoption of concrete solutions and the strengthening of conflict mitigation mechanisms, stressing that the protection of human life must take precedence.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new deputy director-general of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Joaquim Fernando, the prime minister highlighted that the rise in incidents involving wild animals demands a more effective response from the relevant institutions.
‘It is essential that the sector puts forward clear proposals on how to overcome this situation. Preserving wildlife is important, but it is even more important to safeguard human life and the livelihoods of communities,’ she said.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/21/negocios/agronegocios/tete-animais-bravios-destruiram-mais-de-230-hectares-de-culturas-desde-janeiro/
