Zimbabwe: Elephant Tramples Game Scout to Death

The Herald (Harare)
16 May 2007
Harare

A CHIREDZI game scout, who in the company of his two workmates, allegedly tried to kill a wounded elephant with a rifle in Gonarezhou National Park last week, paid with his life after the cornered jumbo charged at him and trampled him to death.

In a related case, a Chirundu man was trampled to death by an elephant in a bush after he had gone fishing along the Zambezi River last week.

The wounded elephant reportedly charged and caught up with Admire Kayungwa (37) of Chipinda Pool Campsite in Gonarezhou after he had shot it twice with a 375 heavy barrel rifle. He was with two workmates -- Mr Patilela Makondo and Mr Chanavela Hahlani -- when the incident occurred.

Kayungwa's body was only retrieved by his two workmates after they had continued shooting the jumbo until it dropped dead close to where it had trampled their colleague.

Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Phibion Nyambo yesterday said an inquest into Kayungwa's death has opened.

His body was taken to Chiredzi District Hospital.

It is reported that on the fateful day, Kayungwa established that there was a wounded elephant at Chipinda Pools that had been seriously injured during a fight with another elephant.

The trio went into Gonarezhou National Park in search of the wounded elephant, which they wanted to kill since it was badly injured in the fight.

They came across the elephant which was hiding in the bush and started shooting at it prompting it to flee. They tracked it and caught up with the animal and continued firing shots at it in an attempt to kill it.

However, the elephant got incensed and charged at the three game scouts forcing them to flee. It gave chase and caught up with Kayungwa and trampled him.

Inspector Nyambo warned game scouts and professional hunters against daring wounded wild animals, especially elephants and buffaloes, saying they were extremely dangerous and posed serious threats to human life especially if they were provoked.

Rogers Dzikamunhenga (53) of Sugar Estates in Chirundu had gone fishing on Monday afternoon when he met his fate.

He did not return home prompting relatives and neighbours to search for him the following day.

They found his crushed body lying in a bush two days later.

Dzikamunhenga's right leg was found several metres away from the rest of his body, while his stomach was ruptured.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Paul Nyathi urged people to be cautious when moving in areas with wild animals.

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