Girl killed by one of my elephants.

11 July 2017, 22:25

A young girl was killed yesterday in my community by an elephant. I am being now blamed for the increase in conflicts and one of my scouts was beaten quite badly because of it but he will live. The situation has now been resolved with the promise of compensation.

I personally am going to donate $2,000 to the family as some sort of compensation for their loss. The communal Trust has a bank account that receives dividends from hunting.

If you would like to contribute something however small it would be most welcome. The money will be receipted and paid by the District Commissioner Mr. Felix Ndolvu.

Whilst animal conflicts are fairly common especially with farmers this is the first human life we have lost. I am also considering applying to a NGO to have Kaindu village fenced off on my eastern boundary to help reduce such problems.

11 July 2017, 22:40

mej

Dear Andrew.
Sad story to read. I'd like to contribute, please advise way of payment.
Kind regards
Jytte

11 July 2017, 22:50

SquirrelNut

Why are you being blamed and why would they beat your scout?

11 July 2017, 23:05

Aaron Neilson

Andrew, sounds more like the local "ju-ju" / tribal mentality than anything to me bro, sorry to hear it. TIA for sure!!!!

Just like years ago when Moses was beat to death, because his sister was the last to see the Chief's son - before he died! Even though he was already sick! Most likely malaria as I recall. Moses was a great man, and a tribal leader - but they still beat him to death!!!!

How about when Richard and I lost our scout for a day, because the scout's father-in-law, beat his mother-in-law to death with a stick, over what, nothing!

Remember when Richard, Tom, Jengo, Brown and I caught that huge poaching ring in Luswishi? Bullets flying everywhere, cruiser chasing the poachers, the poachers shot one of the scouts, scouts and trackers beating the living hell out of one of the poachers - and initially the hunters were blamed for it? Then once determined he was shot with the muzzleloader, and not by us, ZAWA sent in that group of scouts and got revenge "by 20", as one of them put it to me directly. All I know is the scouts all came out a week later, and not a poacher in sight??!!

That place was the wild west when we all re-opened it in 2003 / 2004.

I hope you'll be ok bro, good luck!!!

11 July 2017, 23:50

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Why are you being blamed and why would they beat your scout?

There were no elephants before I arrived in this region. The incident happened just outside my boundary. This is Africa mate.

11 July 2017, 23:53

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by mej:
Dear Andrew.
Sad story to read. I'd like to contribute, please advise way of payment.
Kind regards
Jytte

Many thanks Jytte and I am waiting transfer details of the Trust's account.

11 July 2017, 23:55

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Andrew, sounds more like the local "ju-ju" / tribal mentality than anything to me bro, sorry to hear it. TIA for sure!!!!

Just like years ago when Moses was beat to death, because his sister was the last to see the Chief's son - before he died! Even though he was already sick! Most likely malaria as I recall. Moses was a great man, and a tribal leader - but they still beat him to death!!!!

How about when Richard and I lost our scout for a day, because the scout's father-in-law, beat his mother-in-law to death with a stick, over what, nothing!

Remember when Richard, Tom, Jengo, Brown and I caught that huge poaching ring in Luswishi? Bullets flying everywhere, cruiser chasing the poachers, the poachers shot one of the scouts, scouts and trackers beating the living hell out of one of the poachers - and initially the hunters were blamed for it? Then once determined he was shot with the muzzleloader, and not by us, ZAWA sent in that group of scouts and got revenge "by 20", as one of them put it to me directly. All I know is the scouts all came out a week later, and not a poacher in sight??!!

That place was the wild west when we all re-opened it in 2003 / 2004.

I hope you'll be ok bro, good luck!!!

Don't tell me and I survived a machete attack last year!

12 July 2017, 00:32

Aaron Neilson

quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Andrew, sounds more like the local "ju-ju" / tribal mentality than anything to me bro, sorry to hear it. TIA for sure!!!!

Just like years ago when Moses was beat to death, because his sister was the last to see the Chief's son - before he died! Even though he was already sick! Most likely malaria as I recall. Moses was a great man, and a tribal leader - but they still beat him to death!!!!

How about when Richard and I lost our scout for a day, because the scout's father-in-law, beat his mother-in-law to death with a stick, over what, nothing!

Remember when Richard, Tom, Jengo, Brown and I caught that huge poaching ring in Luswishi? Bullets flying everywhere, cruiser chasing the poachers, the poachers shot one of the scouts, scouts and trackers beating the living hell out of one of the poachers - and initially the hunters were blamed for it? Then once determined he was shot with the muzzleloader, and not by us, ZAWA sent in that group of scouts and got revenge "by 20", as one of them put it to me directly. All I know is the scouts all came out a week later, and not a poacher in sight??!!

That place was the wild west when we all re-opened it in 2003 / 2004.

I hope you'll be ok bro, good luck!!!

Don't tell me and I survived a machete attack last year!

I know bro, its hectic for your boys!!! I always hope the best for you.

You remember that time you, Richard and I went down river from main camp to the dude's little 160 acres from SA who was pissing on, burning and taking down our baits? You remember that? I was sure we were in for a scrap that day, especially with me running my mouth - but man was I pissed about that. I was out of control. Baits, money, time, - all wasted! But like your situation - the white man was always at FAULT.

Hope the best for you Andrew!!!!

12 July 2017, 02:10

SquirrelNut

quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
quote:
Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Why are you being blamed and why would they beat your scout?

There were no elephants before I arrived in this region. The incident happened just outside my boundary. This is Africa mate.

Someone should explain to those Africans that correlation doesn't imply causation.

12 July 2017, 03:45

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
quote:
Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Why are you being blamed and why would they beat your scout?

There were no elephants before I arrived in this region. The incident happened just outside my boundary. This is Africa mate.

Someone should explain to those Africans that correlation doesn't imply causation.

Bit different when he is wielding an axe.

12 July 2017, 11:18

Barry Groulx

Difficult explaining complex philosophies to rural villagers. All they want are the handouts anyway.

12 July 2017, 11:45

fulvio

quote:
Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Difficult explaining complex philosophies to rural villagers. All they want are the handouts anyway.

12 July 2017, 13:47

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Difficult explaining complex philosophies to rural villagers. All they want are the handouts anyway.

Difference is that my relationship is a business one and my company is partnered with the community. It has been a struggle to convince them that wild animals are an asset and that they can derive sustainable incomes from their natural resources. The increase in game due to the success of the model has also seen increased wildlife conflicts which now have to be addressed.

12 July 2017, 22:55

butchloc

quote:
posted 12 July 2017 11:18 Hide Post
Difficult explaining complex philosophies to rural villagers. All they want are the handouts anyway.

ah - black lives matter

13 July 2017, 02:58

Rockdoc

Sorry to hear this Andrew.

You are a generous man.

When working in Tanz I had insurance on my field staff. We were told by the insurance agent that under no circumstances were we to tell them as, if their families found out, they would likely kill them for the money.

TIA.

13 July 2017, 22:10

Russ Gould

Difficult situation indeed ... was it a cow? Will the game dept not require you to follow up and deal with the rogue ele? Can you work out a deal with the game dept to allow you to do PAC hunts and put the proceeds in a fund to cover this sort of thing?

Going forward will be tricky as well. Will you be expected to pay for crop raiding? How about livestock losses?

The bottom line is subsistence farmers and wild game don't co-exist very well. More and more people living in areas that were formerly unpopulated requires creating thinking.