Three killed in jumbo attacks

Beitbridge Bureau
May 11, 2010

THREE people here, among them, a three- year-old toddler, were last week killed by elephants in two separate incidents in Chabili Village under Chief Matibe.

The body of one of the victims, a man aged about 40, was picked near his maize field in an advanced state of decomposition on Wednesday afternoon.

The other two victims, a woman and her baby were killed near the Limpopo River the following day.

Police officer commanding Beitbridge District Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero yesterday confirmed the incidents.

"Our officers are still down on the ground and we expect to hear from them soon," he said.

Relatives of the deceased man said he was attacked last Saturday night when he went to chase a herd that had strayed into his maize field.

"Apparently, the man heard elephants breaking into his maize field on Saturday night. He then armed him self with a machete and a sjambok and went to the field where he chased them away using the sjambok. He later tried to repair the fence where the elephants had entered through. During the process he was attacked by a bull elephant that had been tracking the other herd.

"We took time to discover his body as he lived alone since his wife had visited relatives at Flora Farm in Mwenezi District. He was, however, discovered by a herdboy who then informed members of the community. We found some struggle marks and his sjamboks and machete next to his body," said Mr Phillimon Mbedzi, a relative of the deceased.

No! THat can't be! Why,every "documentary" I have seen on US TV shows elephants with such cute baby ones and they only eat grass and herbs,don't they? (which pleases all the "veggies") -Ever notice how they never show an elephant's destructive eating habits with small trees? (I have a photo of what a small tree area looked like after elephants passed through (I think it was mopane) - It resembles pictures from WW1 of shelled woods areas.Fact) Three people are dead -none of them "hunters" (you know, those bad people who shoot at elephants) - Will I hear a word of defense of those poor people and their families from the so called "envcironmentalists" or "Friends of Animals"? I don't know about you guys but I won't bet on it.