Zimbabwean survives Lion Attack Near Victoria Falls

Metrod Tshuma

Source: ZBC

A 29-year-old man from the Woodlands Resettlement Area near Victoria Falls is lucky to be alive after surviving a brutal lion attack over the weekend.

What began as an ordinary day for Metrod Tshuma quickly turned into a life-threatening ordeal.

At approximately 10 a.m. on Saturday, Tshuma heard shouting, barking dogs, and the unmistakable roar of a lion near the community’s cattle grazing area.

“I heard people shouting and dogs barking. I ran out and heard a lion roaring where our cattle graze, so I ran to meet my colleagues to try and scare it away,” said Tshuma.

Alongside several others, he attempted to approach the danger, but the lion ambushed him from behind.

“It went into a thicket close to where I was, with my colleagues behind me. The lion came from my back and attacked me,” he recounted.

The lion bit off his thumb and clawed his head and hand.

Injured and bleeding, Tshuma stumbled toward a tree and cried for help.

“I managed to escape by pushing it away. I cried out, injured and in pain, later my colleagues came to rescue me.”

Tshuma was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital, where he remains under medical care, nursing deep wounds.

“I thank the almighty God for protecting me because I was going to be killed by that lion,” he said.

The lion is alleged to have killed a neighbour’s cow the day before and after attacking Tshuma, it went on to maul two donkeys.

“I am appealing to the authorities to help us. Some of these lions are collared, School children walk long distances to school and they are in danger.” said one of the community members.

As Tshuma recovers, his community remains on edge, after losing more than 50 cattle to wild animals this year alone.