Nearly 20 hyenas, believed to have been a threat to both people and livestock have been hunted down and killed in the Simiyu Region of the Lake Zone Precinct.
The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority reports that special task forces have succeeded in gunning down a total of 17 marauding hyenas after a week-long hunt for the laughing carnivores.
According to the spokesperson of the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), Beatus Maganja, game rangers were compelled to hunt down the man-eating hyenas in forest, caves and other hideouts located near villages.
But in an even more strange development, some of the hyenas were found to bear strange markings.
The hyenas were etched with branded human names or special numbers on their hides, furs and skins, indicating that some people actually ‘owned,’ those species of wildlife.
Other hyena carcasses worn necklaces suspected to have been charm-filled talismans.
The area around the Lake Victoria Zone of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda is usually known for cases of witchcraft and dark magic, which means the marked hyenas could have been used as vehicles for such magic.
Local residents say the hyenas have been attacking mostly school-bound children, the youth who were grazing cattle in the fields, older persons and women.
A resident of Nyamala village, Sitta Mnada said more than four children aged between 3 and 6 years have so far been mauled by hyenas in Nkoma, Idisa and Nyamala hamlets of Itilima.
Recently a child aged 3 years was attacked and killed by a hyena in the Mhunze Village of Itilima District of Simiyu Region.
The Child’s mother, Lucia Gambi said the animal attacked them at home as she was preparing supper for her family.
“A hairy animal just appeared from nowhere and grabbed my child,” cried the mother, adding that the hyena ran off with the minor into the wilderness.
The Simiyu Regional Police Commander, Edith Swebe explained that after a lengthy search the remains of the child were found but the animal had disappeared into the unknown.