Sunday July 03, 2011
Local News

Stray elephant killed in Serengeti


From MUGINI JACOB in Serengeti, 2nd July 2011 @ 12:00

GAME officers shot dead a stray elephant in Kitarungu Village in Serengeti District, Mara Region, wildlife officials confirmed on Saturday.

''We killed the elephant on Saturrday evening to save people's lives and we had no option. Elephants are now everywhere," Serengeti District Acting Wildlife Officer Mr Cathbert Boma told the 'Sunday News.'

A huge number of jumbos have invaded many villages situated near the Serengeti National Park in the district whose large part is made up of game protected areas in the recent months.

''They are straying into the residential area 15 to 20 kilometres and invade the villages almost every day," he said.

The mammals have caused panic among the people apart from destroying plantations of crops, he said.

Grumeti/Ikorongo game reserves rangers have joined the Serengeti district game officers in chasing away the elephants that move in huge groups.

''So far only one person has been killed by an elephant this year but destruction of crop farms is alarming," the official said.

Local leaders from the affected villages lamented that the elephants have ravaged food crops such as maize, millet and cassava, leaving hundreds of peasants in a dilemma.

''Up to now there are elephants in the villages, affecting over 150 households in my ward,'' Sedeko Ward Councillor, Mr Richard Nyakera told 'Sunday News.'

The civic leader mentioned three villages that have been badly affected by the stray jumbos in his ward as Bisarara, Mbilikiri and Bonchugu all situated in the world famous park.

The Tanzania National Park(TANAPA) has been accused of ignoring the problem of jumbos' invasion of villages located close to the country's national parks.

The authorities say elephants are a source of underdevelopment in the districts with the villages near the parks and game reserves.