MARAUDING elephants continue to pose a danger to humans, with the latest three victims, one killed, having been attacked over the weekend.
This comes as the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) released chilling statistics of wild animal attack related deaths last week.
The stats showed that over 100 people had been attacked by wildlife, especially elephants and crocodiles, 60 of them succumbing to the injuries.
ZimParks public relations manager Tinashe Farawo told the Daily News yesterday that they had received more reports of human and wildlife conflict.
He said a new death had been recorded, with the latest being of a 60-year-old man, who was attacked in Victoria Falls on Sunday morning.
“It is unfortunate that a 60-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant in Victoria Falls on Sunday morning.
“Our ZimParks team went to the ground. We encourage communities to give the animals space, avoid provoking them and to try all means not to move at night,” he said.
In another incident, a 32-year-old Kariba woman and her child were rushed to hospital after surviving an elephant attack in the resort town.
They sustained serious injuries and are admitted at the hospital.
“We also have a case of a 32-year-old mother and child who were seriously injured by an elephant in Kariba.
“They are currently receiving treatment at Kariba Hospital. Again, we encourage communities to give wild animals space and to report any presence of wild animals in their areas as soon as possible,” said Farawo.
He said ZimParks was training communities on animal behaviour and best practices to stay safe.
Between January and October, a total of 60 deaths and 40 non-fatal wildlife had been recorded by ZimParks countrywide. Deaths have been recorded at game parks, in resort areas as well as in communal areas.
Andile Tshuma
in BULAWAYO
