Pundanhar, Cabo Delgado – The return of thousands of displaced families to their ancestral homes in Pundanhar, Palma district, has been hampered by an unexpected adversary: wild animals. Two years after fleeing terrorist attacks, residents are struggling to rebuild their lives amidst a growing human-wildlife conflict that threatens their food security.
According to Vicente Passe, head of the Pundanhar administrative post, monkeys and wild pigs have wreaked havoc on the community’s agricultural efforts, making it nearly impossible for families to harvest crops. As a result, nearly 4,000 inhabitants are facing food insecurity and require urgent assistance.
“It’s a serious problem,” Passe said. “These animals are destroying our crops, and we don’t know what to do.”
Local authorities believe that the population decline during the conflict may have contributed to the increase in wildlife. With fewer people around, wild animals may have proliferated, leading to greater encounters with human settlements.
While there is no immediate solution, the government is exploring options to address the human-wildlife conflict. These may include community-based conservation initiatives, habitat restoration, or even controlled culling in extreme cases.
The situation in Pundanhar highlights the complex challenges faced by communities returning to conflict-affected areas. While the threat of violence may have subsided, the battle for survival continues against a different kind of enemy: the forces of nature.
