MWANZA, Tanzania, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed by hyenas between Jan. 1 and Feb. 24 in Sengerema, a district in Mwanza region, northern Tanzania, an official said on Sunday.
The first victim, a 16-year-old boy, was attacked and killed by hyenas on Jan. 15 when he was collecting firewood, Sengerema district wildlife officer Paul Ponsian said.
The other two victims were a 70-year-old farmer, who was attacked on Jan. 29 on the way to his farm, and a 16-year-old girl, who was killed by hyenas on Feb. 16 on her way to fetch water for her grandmother, Ponsian said.
He urged residents in the Sengerema district to be vigilant against further attacks by hyenas, saying the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) has started hunting down the animals.
Five hyenas have already been killed by TAWA game rangers, Ponsian said. ■