LUSAKA, Zambia — On Thursday, a tragic incident occurred in Zambia where two elderly female tourists were fatally attacked by an elephant during a walking safari in a national park. This unfortunate event was confirmed by local police authorities.
Robertson Mweemba, the Police Commissioner of Eastern Province, identified the victims as 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the United Kingdom and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand. The women were attacked by a female elephant accompanied by a calf, which likely perceived a threat to its young.
Despite efforts by the safari guides to protect the group by firing warning shots to deter the elephant, their actions were not enough to prevent the aggressive encounter. The elephant was wounded in the attempt to stop it, but it still succeeded in fatally attacking the women. Both victims succumbed to their injuries at the site of the attack.
The incident took place at South Luangwa National Park, an area located roughly 600 kilometers (370 miles) from Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia.
It’s known that female elephants are fiercely protective of their young and can become very aggressive if they sense any danger to their calves.
This tragic incident is reminiscent of occurrences from the previous year when two American tourists lost their lives in similar situations, also involving elephants and taking place in different regions of Zambia. In those instances, the victims were also elderly women who were inside safari vehicles when the attacks occurred.