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Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
U.K., N.Z. tourists killed by elephant in Zambia during walking safari
Two female tourists were killed by an elephant in Zambia on Thursday while on a walking safari in a national park, according to police. Eastern Province police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims — 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the U.K. and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand — were attacked and trampled by a female elephant that was with a calf. Safari guides who were with the group attempted to stop the elephant from charging at the women by firing shots at it, police said. 'They were moving to other camps when the elephant charged from behind. We are really sorry that we have lost our visitors,' Mweemba said. 'They both died on the spot.' The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots but the guides were unable to prevent the elephant's attack. Story continues below advertisement 'It is very difficult to control the animals and tourists like feeding them,' Mweemba added. It happened at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, around 600 kilometres from the capital, Lusaka. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats. 0:42 79-year-old woman dead after elephant charges tour group in Zambia Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In March 2024, an American tourist was killed when a bull elephant charged the truck she was riding in Kafue National Park. Gail Mattson, 79, of Minnetonka, Minn., was with other tourists when the animal charged, flipping over the vehicle and killing her while injuring five others. In a separate attack in June 2024, another U.S. tourist was killed by an elephant in the Zambian city of Livingstone. Story continues below advertisement Officials said Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, was killed when an elephant that was part of a herd the tourists were watching attacked their vehicle, threw Tourneau out and trampled her. She was part of a group that had stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge due to the traffic caused by the elephant herd near the bridge, they added. Zambian authorities have called on tourists to exercise extreme caution while observing wildlife around the country. In another incident in January of this year, a 22-year-old tourist was killed by an elephant at a sanctuary in Thailand after the animal turned on her while she was giving it a bath. Blanca Ojanguren García, from northwest Spain, was alongside her boyfriend at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre on Jan. 3 when the elephant attacked her. She was rushed to the local hospital, where she died. Elephants cause approximately 500 deaths per year, worldwide. — With files from Global News' Michelle Butterfield and The Associated Press
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourist brutally killed by charging elephant while on safari trip
The tragic incident happened while the two frinds were enjoying a sunrise walk to another part of the camp - safari guides tied to shoot the elephant but failed to stop the attack A British tourist and her friend have been killed by a charging elephant during a 'sunrise safari walk' in Zambia. At around 6am local time on Thursday July 3 the victims, a 68-year-old and a 67-year-old, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at South Luangwa National Park, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said. The two friends had been based at the Big Lagoon Bush Camp and had been enjoying an early morning walk to another part of the camp when the horror incident took place. Mweemba said: "Two female tourists while taking a safari walk to a crossing point at Luangwa river spotted an elephant with a calf at a distance and diverted about 50m away, but within few minutes after diverting a tea bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them." The tea bearer reportedly shouted 'elephants' and as the two women turned around they saw it storming towards them at high speed. In a desperate bid to help the women escape alive the safari guides who were with the group fired shots at the elephant, reports MailOnline. While the elephant was hit by the gunshots, the guides were unable to prevent the attack and both women died at the scene, police said. The pair 'had spent four peaceful days immersed in nature's embrace. Their journey was meant to continue - but instead, we remember them for their courage, their curiosity, and their love for life's wild places', a local said. The bodies of the two women have been taken to Mambwe District Hospital for mortuary services, awaiting further details. Their cause of death is yet to be formerly confirmed. According to the South Luangwa National Park website, the region's "concentration of animals is some of the most dense in all of Africa". The site adds: "You don't have to travel to the most remote areas of the park to see some amazing animal sights. In fact, don't be surprised if a handful of elephants wander in and out of your camp, as they have a habit of making themselves welcome." This isn't the first time a tourist has been killed by an elephant in Zambia, last year an 80-year-old American woman died and another was injured when an aggressive bull elephant charged at a group on a safari at Kafue National Park in Zambia on Saturday, March 30. A shocking video taken from one of the people on the truck shows the elephant running along the vehicle as the group was moving. At some point, the vehicle stops, and the elephant can be seen aggressively approaching the truck. The animal immediately charges at the group lifting the truck with its trunk and turning it over within seconds. A man can be heard yelling "Ey, ey!" apparently trying to scare the animal away until the phone shooting the video seems to fall on the ground and the screen goes black. The company released a statement acknowledging the incident and said that although the driver was trained and experienced, "terrain and vegetation" were blocking the truck's way and forced the guide to stop. The Mirror has contacted South Luangwa National Park for comment.
