MWE Correspondent
Fear and shock gripped the small community of Bulundela village in Azimio Ward on the night of July 14, 2025, after four villagers were attacked and injured by a stray hyena.
The incident occurred in Manonga Division, Igunga District, raising alarm over rising cases of human-wildlife conflict in rural Tanzania.
Regional Police Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Richard Abwao confirmed the attack, stating that the hyena targeted each victim at different times and inflicted multiple injuries.
“The victims were attacked in separate incidents, sustaining wounds on their heads, arms, and legs,” he said. “They were immediately taken to Igunga District Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.”
Local leaders say this is the first reported hyena attack in the area in several years. Residents are now being advised to avoid venturing out alone after dark, especially near the bushlands that surround the village — areas which are natural corridors for wildlife movement.
Hyenas are known to be nocturnal and opportunistic feeders. While typically shy around humans, they can become aggressive when sick, cornered, or desperately hungry — especially during periods of drought or ecological disruption.
Wildlife experts have linked increasing encounters like this one to habitat loss and human encroachment into formerly wild areas.
Following the attack, local authorities contacted regional wildlife officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, who have since dispatched a tracking team to search for the animal. The aim is to assess whether it can be safely relocated or needs to be contained to prevent future harm.
Officials from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) have also advised community leaders to improve livestock shelters, secure food waste, and educate villagers on safety practices during wildlife sightings.
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Medical teams at the hospital have confirmed that all victims are being treated with post-exposure rabies prophylaxis, as hyena bites pose a serious risk of infection. In Tanzania, rabies remains a public health concern in remote areas where contact with wild or stray animals is more common.
The district’s veterinary unit is also planning a community outreach program to raise awareness on the importance of animal vaccination, proper waste disposal, and rapid reporting of wildlife encounters.
Incidents like this are becoming more common across East Africa as a result of expanding human settlements into traditional wildlife migration zones. Conservationists warn that without proper land-use planning, conflicts between people and animals will increase.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, hyenas, lions, elephants, and other species are increasingly crossing paths with humans, especially in regions bordering protected areas like Igombe Game Reserve, located near Tabora.
