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Malawi: Elephant Kills 2 Including Game Ranger, Injures 2 Others
By Joseph Dzuwa, 8 June 2013



Zomba — A stray bewildered elephant believed to have come out of Liwonde National Park or from Mozambique has killed a game ranger who was attempting to shoot it at Malosa and another male person at Nasawa in Zomba.

Station Officer for Zomba Police Station, Davie Chingwalu told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) Friday that on Wednesday the police received reports that a woman who had carried a baby on her back was trampled upon by an elephant and hospitalized at Malosa Mission hospital.

"The elephant injured a woman namely Esnat Richard 29, of Machawe village, T/A Malemia who had some intestines flushed out and was taken to Malosa hospital while her baby was slightly injured," Chingwalu said.

When the police and two game rangers arrived at Malosa, he said they searched for the elephant and tried to shoot it, unfortunately, the violent elephant braving the pains of fresh gun wounds hooked to death one of the game rangers ,34 year old Fredrick Galimoto using its ivory before it disappeared into the bush.

According to Chingwalu efforts to trace the elephant proved futile on Wednesday until around 0400hrs in the morning of Thursday when residence of Chikanda location in the city of Zomba were mesmerized when they saw the strange giant object; the wild elephant passing through going towards 3 miles.

"Later around 7.00 hrs it was reported that the elephant was at Nasawa under Senior Chief Chikowi, where it killed on the spot, Felix Julius 45, of Jiya village, T/A Chikowi in Zomba," said Chingwalu.

He also said earlier, the belingered elephant had also injured another person, Michael Nasalu of the same area who is in critical condition at Zomba Central Hospital.

"The police officers and the game rangers continued to search for the elephant and it succumbed to bullet wounds after a shower of gun shots from several guns at Nasawa," Chingwalu explained.

Chingwalu also said the elephant is also believed to have crossed into the country from Mozambique if not from Liwonde National Park, but that it has to be confirmed by officials from wildlife and parks.