Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs: Govt sets up human–wildlife conflict relief fund as Parks Act is amended

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Govt sets up human–wildlife conflict relief fund as Parks Act is amended

GOVERNMENT has enacted sweeping reforms to wildlife legislation after gazetting the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act, a move aimed at strengthening community protection and improving response to rising cases of human–wildlife conflict (HWC).

A key feature of the amended law is the creation of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund (HWCRF), which will provide financial support to individuals injured or permanently disabled by wild animals, as well as families of people killed during encounters with wildlife while going about their normal daily activities.

According to the gazetted Act, the new fund is designed specifically to ease the burden on affected households, many of which live in conservation-adjacent communities where human–wildlife encounters have been increasing.

“There is hereby established a Fund to be called the Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund (HWCRF) whose object is to offer some monetary relief to victims of human wildlife conflict, that is to say victims of any encounter with a wild animal resulting in the death of a victim, or his or her maiming (that is to say any permanent disablement of a bodily function) or any other physical injury to the victim,” read part of the Amendment Act.

The introduction of the fund comes as communities in wildlife-rich provinces continue to bear the brunt of elephant attacks, livestock predation, and dangerous encounters involving species such as crocodiles, buffalo, lions and hippos.

The amendment is expected to formalise compensation mechanisms, streamline reporting processes and ensure state-backed support for victims—an issue that has long been raised by traditional leaders, rural district councils and conservation stakeholders.

Further details on the operational structure, funding model and claim procedures for the fund are expected to be announced as the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife begins implementing the new provisions.

The revised Parks and Wildlife Act marks one of the most significant legislative updates in years, with the Government positioning the reform as part of broader efforts to balance wildlife conservation with community safety and livelihood protection.

Source: Govt sets up human–wildlife conflict relief fund as Parks Act is amended (02/12/2025)