28 Apr 2019

Police in Kasane are investigating an incident in which a 50 year-old man is suspected to have been killed by an elephant on April 25.

Officer Commanding Police District No 7, Senior Superintendent Thari Senwelo told BOPA in an interview that the police received a report on April 26 at around 6am, from a passerby about a lifeless body on the stairs near Plateau Recreational Park.

Snr Supt Senwelo said upon arrival, they found the body of a 50 year-old man who was rushed to Kasane Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

He said it was suspected that the deceased was trampled to death by an elephant or elephants because broken tree branches and elephant tracks were found at the scene.

Snr Supt Senwelo said according to nearby residents, on the night of April 25 at around 10pm, they heard elephants trumpeting and in the midst of the noise was a voice calling for help.

He said the deceased originated from Satau and his relatives were informed.

The police chief explained that such incidents were a yearly occurrence in his area of jurisdiction and therefore appealed to the community to always be alert for animals roaming residential areas.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Mr Kitso Mokaila who was on an official trip in Kasane visited the deceased’s family.

The Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration assistant minister and also Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni, who is a relative to the deceased also visited the family. Ends