MARAUDING elephants have destroyed homes and sent residents fleeing in the Zimbabwean resort town of Kariba, a state daily has reported. | First! First! Elephants, why do they hate us? |
"A herd of stray elephants wreaked havoc in Kariba where it destroyed homes and forced a number of Nyamhunga township residents and others on the outskirts of Charara National Park to flee," the Herald newspaper said. The newspaper quoted a resident who said six "violent" elephants had been spotted on the rampage in the area bordering Zambia, trampling vegetable gardens in the township.
Parks and wildlife authorities told the newspaper a team of scouts was in the area to try to control the elephants. "The team is also expected to come up with a report on the changing behaviour of the elephants as to why they appeared to be in moving closer to human settlements," said retired army major Edward Mbewe.
One possible explanation is the drought which has hit Zimbabwe and other parts of southern Africa, drying up rivers and depleting forests.
Zimbabwe is grappling with elephant overpopulation. There are 100,000 elephants in national parks that are said to have a capacity of 45,000.
In May, the wildlife authorities offered to sell some of the elephants from the national parks to private game park owners and farmers. |