A tourist from New Mexico has been killed after being mauled by an elephant in Zambia, according to the police chief investigating the incident. She is the second tourist to be killed by an elephant in the southern African country this year.
The woman who was killed, Juliana G. Letourneau, 64, of Alburquerque, had just visited Victoria Falls, a 350-foot waterfall. Across the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambia’s southern province police chief Oxensio Daka said in a phone interview Saturday that she and others got out of their cars to observe the animals.
“They stopped to watch the elephants and unfortunately, while they were standing there watching, one of the elephants charged at them,” Mr Dhaka said.
Mr Dhaka said Ms Letourno was taken to a clinic in Mosi Otunya National Park near Livingstone in Zambia, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her injuries included deep cuts to her right shoulder blade and forehead, a fractured left ankle and a slight dent in her chest, a police statement said.
No other injuries were reported in the encounter with the elephant.
Ms. Letourneau’s brother said Saturday that he was unaware of the details of the incident and declined to be interviewed. Other relatives could not be contacted.
According to media reports, in March this year, a 79-year-old American woman was exploring Kafue National Park in the western central region of Zambia when an elephant rushed into a tour group’s vehicle.
However, experts say it is rare for humans to die in encounters with elephants.
“This was truly a freak accident,” said Nikhil Advani, senior director at WWF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental protection and nature conservation. said when the two incidents happened so close together. “It could just be a combination of some unfortunate circumstances.”
Millions of Americans travel to areas with wildlife each year, and attacks by elephants and other wild animals on Zambian tourists are uncommon, the U.S. State Department said in a statement Friday.
Government-controlled news outlet Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, which first reported Ms Letourno’s death, said human and wildlife encounters in the city of Livingston, where the incident occurred, were ongoing during the country’s worst drought in four decades. Increase.
The report says climate conditions are exacerbating food insecurity in Zambia, which has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, and forcing wildlife into human habitats in search of food and water.
Tourism in the game reserve covers about a third of Zambia and its numerous lakes, rivers and lush valleys, making a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
Joyce Poole, co-founder and co-director of ElephantVoices, a nonprofit organization that studies elephant behavior, said keeping a distance from elephants is the best way for visitors to stay safe. Sometimes, she added, a region’s elephant history can create a “culture of aggression,” such as Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, which endured decades of war and theft in the 20th century. hunting.
“Elephants have certain reactions to vehicles,” Dr. Poole said of her findings in Gorongosa. “This behavior is then observed by younger elephants, imitated by younger elephants, and to some extent passed down through families.” She noted that there are many poaching crises occurring in Zambia.
Dr Poole said that for tourists, finding “a reputable company and drivers who are not just running around to get the best shot” is a good way to stay safe.
Experts say visitors to wilderness areas should also remain vigilant and admire the animals from a distance.
“As with all wild animals, if you keep a safe distance from them, they won’t bother you or interact with you,” Dr. Advani said.
