A mysterious animal has attacked and injured nine people, including two children in Liwonde Township, Machinga District.
Machinga District Hospital has reported that a 35-year-old woman and two children aged five and 10 were admitted to the facility while six others were treated as outpatients following the attack by the animal believed to be a wild dog from Liwonde National Park.
One of the victims, Jasila Imedi, sustained wounds on her nose and body after wrestling with the animal on her way from the market.
“I heard a strange sound from behind and I thought it was a dog. I turned to see it, only to be attacked on my nose. In defence, I punched it with my fists,” she said.
Another victim is Andrew Chinkhale who was bitten on his arm at night.
“This is not a rabid dog because a domesticated dog cannot bite three or more people. I saw it and it appears like a wild dog,” he said.
Liwonde Police Station officer-in-charge Ulemu Kalua said they are yet to receive complaints from the communities, but advised them to be alert as it may attack a lot of people in the area.
Ministry of Tourism spokesperson Joseph Nkosi said the park no longer has wild dogs as they were poisoned by poachers some months ago.
“It is not a wild dog as people are claiming. It might be another animal, but we are tracing it to see how best we can help,” he said.
