Zimbabwe: Elephants have killed 60 people this year, officials said

Elephants have killed at least 60 people and injured 50 others in Zimbabwe so far this year, according to government spokesman Nick Mangwana.

“The issue of Human/Wildlife Conflict has become quite emotive. This year alone 60 Zimbabweans have lost their lives to elephants and 50 injured. In 2021, 72 lost their lives. Zimbabwe will hold an Elephant Summit this month.”

In one district, Bubi, the elephants “have devoured everything in the fields and are now moving into homesteads”, he wrote.

He also added that they are coming into conflict with humans, resulting in injured elephants that become “aggressive and uncontrollable”.

It is estimated that there are 100,000 elephants in Zimbabwe, and that number is growing.

One wildlife expert, Tinashe Farawo, told AFP news agency that the situation was likely to get worse.

“The threat is likely to increase as we move towards the dry season when the herds will be moving in search of water and food,” he said.