Elephant gores man to death
CHRONICLE REPORTER
AN ATTEMPT to drive away a herd of elephants, which had strayed into a homestead cost a man from Binga his life when one of the elephants gored him to death after he had shot and wounded it, police have confirmed.
Matabeleland North police spokesman, Sergeant Augustine Zimbili said , John Mwembe aged 61, died on the spot when an angry bull pierced him from behind his right shoulder to the right of his chest using its trunks. He was from Zingozo village in Simathele area, which is under chief Siyachilaba.
“ The man wanted to chase away a herd of elephants which were in the village. He fired one round in the air using his 303 rifle to scare the animals but they did not go away,â€
“Realising that the animals were resisting, he fired the second round and hit one of the bulls on its right shoulder,†said Sgt Zimbili.
The injured bull angrily charged at this man and caught him with its tasks piecing him in the process. He then died on the spot.
The villagers then made a report to the police.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:

“Realising that the animals were resisting, he fired the second round and hit one of the bulls on its right shoulder,†said Sgt Zimbili.
The injured bull angrily charged at this man and caught him with its tasks piecing him in the process. He then died on the spot.
The villagers then made a report to the police.

Isn't it illegal for him to shoot a bullet into a crop raider without prior approval from National Parks?

Hi 500

Interesting question- was it legal.

Parks would say no - he did not own the land- it is a communal or tribal area and therefore needed permission of the council to shoot an elephant.

Police would say yes- In Zimbabwe you may shoot and kill a person to prevent "grievous loss of property". Loosing a years supply of grain would would fulfil that requirement. And if you can shoot a person for it - how much more an elephant.

We had a case about four years back were a widdowed woman did the same thing, also with a .303 and managed a very nice frontal brain shot. Parks wanted to prosecute. She lived not far from Sengwa, which was my Station at the time so I assited the police in here defence - much to the directors anoyance.

Parks then tried to get her for using an illegal caliber - failed again, legal minimums only apply to sport hunting not self defence or destruction of a problem animal.

I got a letter of commendation from the magistrate, Letters of thanks from the police member in charge and the woman, and an official reprimand from the Director for my part in the proceedings.

Seems like jurisdictional politics are the same everywhere. Glad to see you did the right thing.

Dare I ask / suggest that there might be an over population of Es there?

Curious rather than assertive on this one.

JW

Two more tribesmen have been killed in the same area since the report was filed.

Yup- we have arround 60,000 ele too many for our parks and safari areas carrying capacity.

Also, a very dry year, with very hungry and desperate people trying to protect their pathetic crops.

Total score to the ele's so far this year is 12 countrywide. The ele's has to beat 121 to outdo lightning or 46 to beat hippo kills for a place in the national records as a leading cause of "death by missadventure/acts of God". long way to go but they are off to a good start.

Sounds like the law in Zim is no clearer than it is in many other countries.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
Seems like jurisdictional politics are the same everywhere. Glad to see you did the right thing.

Second that, feel proud my man.It feels good to do the right thing- even if "the experts" disagree.
Schreibstuben-hengste ,I say,nothing but Schreibstuben-hengste -or as we say in this local:deskjockeys.They are everywhere,moreover they advance into high positions.Just look around