Botswana: Buffalo Tramples Wildlife Officer To Death

[Fred Gunner]

Buffalo tramples wildlife officer to death​

An employee of the department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) was trampled to death by a buffalo in the early hours of Monday (25 Jan).
North West regional wildlife coordinator, Mr Dimakatso Ntshebe confirmed in an interview that one of the employees aged 47 was attacked by the buffalo while responding to a report at around 5am.
He explained that the police received a report at around 4am from a member of the public that a buffalo had been spotted at the bus rank charging at people and that it had damaged his vehicle.
Upon receiving the report, he said a team of officers, which included police officers and officers from department of Veterinary and DWNP, was dispatched to search for the buffalo.
He said while tracking it along the Thuso rehabilitation Centre road, the team realised that it could be in the nearby bush and the deceased together with one member of the community went to look for it carrying guns.
Mr Ntshebe said the buffalo suddenly emerged from the bush and attacked the deceased while the other person managed to escape.
The deceased, he said sustained serious injuries as the buffalo broke his arm and gored him on the back.
Other members of the team, he said, managed to shot it and rushed the victim to Maun General Hospital where he died later.
He described the deceased who originated from Etsha 13 as a well-experienced officer who headed Problem Animal Control Unit.
Mr Ntshebe further revealed that since the beginning of the year, they had been receiving reports of buffaloes roaming the villages, noting that two had been killed so far.
He warned the community to be vigilant as they had observed an increase in movement of wildlife across the district. He said animals roamed freely because the elephants had damaged the buffalo fences. ENDS

Source : BOPA	Author : Esther Mmolai
Location : MAUN	Event : Interview
Date : Jan 25 Mon,2021

 

[Neil Molendyk]

Very sad news, I can only hope that his family can be cared for.

 

[flatwater bill]

The team was armed and experienced. Sad..........RIP......FWB

 

[Fred Gunner]

Botswana: Elephant Kills Herder:​

By Goitsemodimo Williams-Madzonga
Ngwasha — A 71-year-old Zimbabwean national working as a herder at Metsibothoko ranch cattle posts in the Nata area was reportedly killed by an elephant on January 26.
According to Nata Police station commander, Assistant Superintendent Phetogo Philmon, the man was with two companions, who managed to escape and reported the matter to the police.
Quoting the companions, he told BOPA in an interview that the three were out looking for cattle when they found the elephant drinking at a pond, which then charged at them.

ASP Philmon said the deceased's body had been taken to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown for postmortem.
Meanwhile, his relatives have been located while police investigations into the incident are continuing.
Source : BOPA

 

[Newboomer]

The perils of living in close proximity of wild animals. You never know when one will attack.

 

[CAustin]

The perils of living in close proximity of wild animals. You never know when one will attack.

Exactly.....

 

[Fred Gunner]

The perils of living in close proximity of wild animals. You never know when one will attack.

Two deaths within three days in Botswana... almost as bad as Chicago on a Friday night

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