Latest news with #elephantattack
Russia Today
7 hours ago
- Russia Today
Elephant rampage kills tourists
Two tourists have died after an elephant attack during a safari in a national park in eastern Zambia, the southern African country's police have said. The incident happened on Thursday inside South Luangwa National Park, about 600km (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said in a statement published by local media. According to the statement, the tourists, Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from New Zealand were part of a guided group when the female elephant that was with a calf charged at them. Safari guides accompanying the group had attempted to stop the elephant by firing shots, wounding the animal, but were unable to prevent the attack. Both elderly women died at the scene, the police commissioner stated. Mweemba said the tourists had been staying at Big Lagoon Camp and were walking to Takwela Camp, where they were expected to cross the Luangwa River by canoe. 'They saw it [the elephant] charging at high speed, and because Alison Jean Taylor had a leg problem, she was caught first,' the Zambia Today news agency quoted the police chief as saying. 'While the wildlife police officer fired warning shots, Easton Janet Taylor was caught as well,' he added. The incident is the latest of a series of fatal elephant encounters involving foreign tourists in Zambia. In March 2024, an 80-year-old American woman was killed when a bull elephant charged and overturned a safari vehicle in Kafue National Park. In June, a 64-year-old American tourist was trampled near the Maramba Cultural Bridge in Livingstone while observing a herd from a parked vehicle. Zambia is home to some of the most diverse and abundant wildlife populations in Africa, including the 'Big Five' – lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses. The landlocked country is endowed with 20 national parks and 36 Game Management Areas, covering roughly 30% of its total land area – one of the largest proportions dedicated to conservation on the continent, according to the Zambian Ministry of Tourism.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Elephant kills British woman and New Zealander on walking safari in Zambia
A British woman and another from New Zealand have been killed by an elephant during a walking safari in Zambia. The animal was wounded by gunshots as guides tried to stop it charging but both victims died at the scene. Police said the animal was with its calf and ran at the women in South Luangwa National Park. They were reportedly attacked from behind. Local authorities named the Briton as Easton Janet Taylor, 68, and the other woman as Alison Jean Taylor, 67. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in and are in contact with the local authorities." Female elephants can respond aggressively if they think there is a threat when they are with their young. Read more from Sky News: Two elderly American women also died last year in separate incidents in Zambia. Both attacks happened while they were on a safari vehicle.
Sky News
17 hours ago
- Sky News
Elephant kills British woman and New Zealander on walking safari in Zambia
A British woman and another from New Zealand have been killed by an elephant during a walking safari in Zambia. The animal was wounded by gunshots as guides tried to stop it charging but both victims died at the scene. Police said the animal was with its calf and ran at the women in South Luangwa National Park. They were reportedly attacked from behind. Local authorities named the Briton as Easton Janet Taylor, 68, and the other woman as Alison Jean Taylor, 67. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Zambia and are in contact with the local authorities." Female elephants can respond aggressively if they think there is a threat when they are with their young.
CNN
17 hours ago
- CNN
Elephant kills two female tourists from the UK and New Zealand in Zambian national park
Two female tourists in Zambia were killed by an elephant Thursday while on a walking safari in a national park, police said. Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims – 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the United Kingdom and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand – were attacked 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. The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant's attack and both women died at the scene, police said. It happened at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, around 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka. Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats. Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were also elderly women and were on a safari vehicle when they were attacked.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- The Independent
British tourist among two women killed by elephant while on safari in Zambian national park
A British woman and a woman from New Zealand have been killed by an elephant during a walking safari in Zambia. The UK's Easton Janet Taylor, 68, and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor were charged by a female elephant and her calf in the incident on Thursday morning, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said. Safari guides attempted to deter the animal by firing shots, wounding the elephant, but were unable to prevent the fatal attack. Both women died at the scene. The tragedy unfolded at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, approximately 370 miles from the capital, Lusaka. Female elephants are known for their fierce protectiveness of their young, often reacting aggressively to perceived threats. '[A] team bearer and 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 for about 50 meters away, but within few minutes after diverting, a [team] bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them,' Mr Mweemba said in a statement published by Zambia Reports. 'He shouted 'elephant', as they turned to see, they saw it charging at a high speed and since Alison Jean Taylor had a leg problem, she was caught first and while the Wildlife Police Officer fired warning shots, Female Easton Janet Taylor was caught as well.' The two women were sisters, according to The New Zealand Herald. Alison was described by a neighbour as an 'amazing woman' who had travelled to Antarctica as well as Africa. The tourists had been staying at a safari camp for four days, and were on their way to another camp called Takwela which involves crossing the Luangwa River with a canoe. Mr Mweemba said it was on this journey through the bush that the tragedy occurred. The women's bodies have been taken to Mambew district hospital, he said. Mr Mweemba said the elephant was wounded in the incident, after she was shot by the wildlife officer. This latest fatality follows two separate incidents last year in Zambia, where elderly American women were also killed by elephants while on safari. Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, was thrown from a vehicle in the city of Livingstone in 2024 as a group of tourists observed a herd of elephants. One of the elephants attacked the vehicle her, according to CBS News. Tourneau's group stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge because of traffic caused by the herd. The woman had been visiting the country from New Mexico. Another American tourist was killed earlier that same year in a similar attack. Gail Mattson, 79, from Minnesota, was killed in Zambia 'while on her dream adventure' in March, her daughter, Rona Wells, told CBS News.
