The protein-rich Mopani caterpillar, an important diet supplement for Ndebele-speaking people in the Matabeleland region, is threatened with extinction due to increased exploitation by outsiders. In 1998 the Mopani was taken to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is now considered a delicacy – its popularity has spread across southern and central Africa. The aggressive and un-regulated harvesting has left locals with an acutely depleted Mopani population. Locals want the industry regulated but few districts have developed any sort of program to ensure that the Mopani will continue to be a source of food and revenue in the future.
