Bullets meant for deadly elephants in Zambia also end up killing 2 people

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Two people apparently died due to stray gunfire after Zambian national park and wildlife officers on Sunday gunned down two deadly stray elephants.

The elephants had earlier killed a woman in the village of Siankope in southern Gambia after straying from Livingstone, the country’s tourist capital bordering Zimbabwe.

Margaret Hamutete and Febius Haboongo “died in the commotion when wildlife officers were trying to calm down the excited crowd after the death of the elephants,” said the area’s district commissioner, Sikaleya Gamela.

“One of the officers fell down in the commotion and it’s likely his gun accidentally shot the two.”

The initial victim, Veronica Makungu, reportedly died early in the morning walking from a well, some 100 meters (328 feet) from home.

The elephants were also reported to have earlier attacked and wounded an unidentified man.

A local chief, Cooma, said residents ran after the dead elephants for their meat and the commotion led to the death of the two people, which he called unfortunate.