Lone elephant sparks panic as it roams in city

Chronicle Reporter
April 10, 2010



A LONE elephant believed to have trampled an Esigodini villager to death on Wednesday, has been spotted roaming the streets of Bulawayo, sparking fear and panic among residents.
A number of concerned residents yesterday phoned Chronicle offices to express fear that they might fall prey to the animal.
The elephant, believed to be a bull, was spotted in the city between 10.30pm on Thursday and 5am yesterday.
It is believed to be a part of a herd of five elephants that was spotted in Esigodini a few days ago.
The elephant was first spotted at Tyre Treads along Plumtree Road at 10.35pm by a security guard who was on night duty. It was also seen in Nkulumane 11 shortly after midnight and in Nkulumane 12 at around 4am.
Mr Morgan Nyatsanza, a security guard manning Tyre Treads, said he was sitting in the guardroom when he heard the elephant bulldozing through the fence.
"I was sitting in the guardroom at about 10.35pm when I heard the company fence stretching and breaking. I stood up thinking that maybe it was a group of robbers who wanted to break into the premises," he said.
"However, when I peeped through the guardroom window, I saw a giant elephant and I couldn't believe my eyes. The elephant passed behind the guardroom and walked along the fence behind the guardroom and headed westwards."
Mr Nyatsanza said after the elephant had passed, he phoned his manager who did not believe him.
"I phoned my manager but he sounded convinced that I was dreaming and said he would see in the morning. He was shocked when he learnt that I was telling the truth," he said.
"I have never been that scared in my life. I was confused and thought someone had bewitched me. I only relaxed after a security guard from Fawcett who was manning a neighbouring building also confirmed seeing the elephant."
The elephant was next spotted at Mrs Simekuliphi Ngwenya's house, close to the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) in Nkulumane 11.
The house has no fence or precast wall.
"I heard sounds like that of a vicious river flowing outside and I was not sure what it could be. At first I was scared to open the door or even peep outside," she said.
The elephant reportedly went to Mrs Ngwenya's back yard before it was blocked by a neighbour's fence.
"It managed to break the laundry line but strangely it couldn't pass through the fence," said Mr Justin Ndlovu, a neighbour of Mrs Ngwenya.
"A neighbour's dog started barking and I think it panicked and went out of the yard the same way that it came."
Mr Ndlovu said he called the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority yesterday morning who said they were looking for the elephant.
From Nkulumane 11, the elephant passed through Nkulumane 12 and was spotted at Mr Monaheni Dube's house, opposite the Roman Catholic Church at 5am.
The elephant is believed to have used a route behind McInn Shopping Centre as its spoor was also found there heading towards Nkulumane 12.
Mr Dube's neighbour, Mr Chris Moyo, said Mr Dube called him yesterday morning to show him the elephant's spoor in his yard.
"Mr Dube was so shocked by the incident. He told me that he heard strange noises in his yard at 5am. We saw huge prints coming from the front going through the back before proceeding to a bushy area separating Nkulumane and Rangemore," said Mr Moyo.
When a Chronicle news crew visited some of the areas where the elephant passed through, its spoor was still fresh.
Contacted for comment, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority's western regional manager, Mr Felix Chimeramombe, said the elephant was first spotted in Esigodini on Wednesday.
"We received a report from police in Esigodini that a lone elephant had been seen roaming around. We sent two teams to track the elephant but unfortunately when they got there it had trampled one person to death. The team spent the whole day looking for it, but could not find it," said Mr Chimeramombe.
"Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon we received a report that an elephant had been seen in Burnside and again we sent a team who found a spoor to confirm that the elephant had been there."
Mr Chimeramombe said the team tracked the spoor to Gifford High School, but could not continue because of the darkness.
"Today (yesterday) morning we received reports that it had been spotted in Nkulumane and we deployed a team from Tshabalala Sanctuary," he said.
"When they got there, the team also found the spoor and tracked it to a private farm in Solusi. It is believed that it is heading to Gwamba area where there are other herds of elephants."
Mr Chimeramombe said they have deployed another team to Solusi University to make sure that the elephant does not make any contact with people.

Burnside, Bulawayo? Hell, that's right in the neighborhoods of PHs John Hunt and John Sharp!

Another April Fool's joke - surely !!

Mystery surrounds jumbo spotted in city

Sunday News Reporter

THE lone elephant seen roaming various places in Bulawayo has vanished into thin air and authorities have said they are tracking the bull down.



The elephant, which caused panic among citizens in the country’s second biggest city, was seen between Thursday night and Friday morning, but has not been sighted since then.
Contacted for comment, the Parks and Wildlife, Management Authority’s Western regional manager, Mr Felix Chimeramombe, said the authory had not yet spotted it but was still on the lookout.
“We have not yet located the elephant and there have been no recent developments on its whereabouts. The news is still the same from what was earlier reported,’’ he said.
Our sister paper Chronicle yesterday ran a story on the elephant, sighted in at least three places in the city.
It was reported to be a part of a herd of five elephants that were also spotted in Esigodini a few days ago.
The elephant was first spotted at Tyre Treads along Plumtree Road at 10.35pm on Thursday by a security guard who was on night duty.
It was also seen in Nkulumane 11 shortly after midnight and in Nkulumane 12 around 4am.
Mr Chimeramombe yesterday said the Parks and Wildlife Management authority received a report from the police that the elephant was seen in Nkulumane but when an official was sent to investigate, he found a spoor, indicating that the elephant had passed the area earlier.
“At the moment we have no idea where the elephant is and we are asking for information from anyone who happens to see it. Our regional offices will remain open for anyone who either wants to call or come in,’’ he said.
In an interview yesterday, the Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, advised members of the public to be vigilant and be on the lookout for the elephant.
Inspector Moyo said people should not provoke the animal but try by all means to avoid it because it is a dangerous animal that kills.
“I urge members of the public to avoid it at all costs. They must not go nearer or provoke it in any way but report immediately to the police or to the Parks and Wildlife Authority,’’ he said.