An 80-year-old US woman has tragically lost her life in Zambia after an aggressive elephant charged at the safari vehicle she was in, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred on Saturday at Kafue National Park in the western part of Zambia. According to reports, the large elephant charged at the vehicle, flipping it over several times. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, succumbed to her injuries, while four other guests sustained minor injuries and are currently receiving trauma counseling. One woman was transported to a hospital in South Africa for further treatment.
Keith Vincent, CEO of the safari group, explained that the vehicle became trapped by terrain and vegetation, rendering it unable to move out of the elephant’s path.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died,” Mr. Vincent said, expressing sorrow over the tragic incident. “We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident.”
Authorities, including the police and the department of national parks and wildlife, are currently investigating the incident.
This unfortunate event sheds light on the challenges posed by human-wildlife interactions, particularly in regions where elephant populations are on the rise. Both Zimbabwe and Botswana, neighboring countries of Zambia, have expressed concerns about the increasing number of elephant populations and the potential risks associated with human encounters.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has recorded several deadly elephant attacks, highlighting the need for measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and ensure the safety of both wildlife and tourists in the region.
