Kenya: Jumbos Trample Three to Death in Narok South

Three people, including a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger, were killed on Monday night by straying elephants from Maasai Mara game reserve.

The KWS senior warden Kenneth ole Naisho said the ranger was killed after his gun failed to fire at the elephants. "He was responding to the alarm raised by the locals after the jumbos killed a woman who was walking home from the nearby market," Naisho said. The jumbos also destroyed property worth millions of shillings at Nkuluo and Ntuka trading centre in Narok South district.

Naisho said his officers have killed two elephants and urged the locals to report immediately they see straying animals. He said the KWS has started a programme to ensure the jumbos do not stray.

Yesterday, Maasai Council of Elders chairman Kasaine ole Esho condoled the bereaved families and urged the state to enhance security and protect the locals from the wild animals. "We don't want such incidences to happen again. It is the role of the government to ensure every citizen is protected from wild animals," Esho said. He accused the KWS officials of failing to find a lasting solution to the human-wildlife conflicts rampant in the area.

Esho urged the government to move fast and address the situation. He said people living around Maasai Mara might be forced to flee the area or killed straying animals. This, Esho said, is not good for tourism.

Narok County Kenya National Union of Teachers executive secretary Denis Rakwa said the jumbos have hindered learning in some of schools in the area. Pupils are forced to report to schools late and leave early for fear of being attacked by the animals, he said. "They (animals) have been interrupting the normal learning in schools with some children and teachers going for weeks without reporting for fear of being attacked by the marauding animals," Rakwa said.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
The KWS senior warden Kenneth ole Naisho said the ranger was killed after his gun failed to fire at the elephants.

Safety still on, no round in chamber, or just seriously bad timing for an honest to goodness internal malfunction?