Thursday, 24 February 2005
Jumbos trample 2 women to death

Herald Reporter
TWO Guruve women were on Monday trampled to death in separate incidents by two elephants believed to be part of five stray elephants from Doma Game Park.

Esnath Gatsi (23) and Chipo Kanobvurunga (age not given), both of Mashayamombe Village, were killed by the elephants which are believed to have broken out from the confines of the game park, which is in the Raffingora area.

The five elephants had invaded Gatsi’s homestead at around 10am. She then fled to seek refuge at a house in the same village.

Some villagers then teamed up with Gatsi and went to the homestead beating drums loudly in an attempt to scare away the elephants through the noise.

Apparently enraged by the din, one of beasts charged towards Gatsi and attacked her.

She was taken to Guruve District Hospital before being transferred to Harare Central Hospital, where she died on admission.

The other victim, Kanobvurunga, was on her way home from a farm when she came upon the stray elephants late in the night.

One of the elephants charged towards her and trampled her. She died on the spot.

Her body was found by her son who was looking for her.

Police spokesperson Inspector Jessie Banda yesterday said the rogue elephants were still in the area and posed a threat to people’s lives.

She said National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officers on Tuesday went to the area on a mission to locate the beasts and drive them back into the game park.

A number of people in remote parts of the country have been injured while others have been killed by rogue elephants.

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