Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers shot and killed an elephant at Spurwing Island in Matusadona National Park after it killed a staff member and later charged a reaction team deployed to the area.
The incident occurred on September 18 after the elephant breached a weak section of the electric fence surrounding the Spurwing Island camp and attacked a staff member.
ZimParks Senior Regional Manager for Sebungwe Region, Mr Midwell Kapesa, said the elephant had become a serious threat to human life.
“Following the fatal attack, a ZimParks reaction team was deployed to attend to the incident and located the animal along the shoreline near Spurwing Island,” Mr Kapesa said.
He said the elephant charged members of the reaction team during the operation, leaving the rangers with no safe alternative but to shoot it.
“Faced with this direct threat, the rangers were left with no safe alternative but to shoot the elephant,” he said.
Mr Kapesa said although the loss of wildlife was regrettable, the action was necessary to protect human life and prevent further injury or loss of life.
Matusadona Conservation Trust (MCT) Country Manager Mr Michael Pelham, in an incident report dated September 19, said the elephant had broken through a weak point in the electric fence surrounding the camp.
“The elephant broke through a weak point in the electric fence that encircles the camp,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police and PMJ Emergency Response attended the scene following the attack, while MCT officials began compiling a report on the incident.
Mr Pelham said the death was the second fatality involving a Spurwing Island staff member this year.
Mr Kapesa said human-wildlife conflict remained a major challenge in Kariba District, where several people have been killed and others injured.
“ZimParks remains committed to conserving Zimbabwe’s wildlife while ensuring that the protection of human life remains paramount,” he said.
Mr Kapesa urged residents, tourism operators and visitors to promptly report potentially dangerous animals and co-operate with wildlife authorities in efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
