Elephant shot to death after trampling handler

AN elephant was shot to death after trampling and killing a handler who worked for a company in Zimbabwe that offers elephant rides to tourists.

THE elephant rides at Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe are advertised as a “unique opportunity to get close to these giants” but for one handler this popular tourist attraction turned into a nightmare that cost him his life.

Enock Kufandada was an elephant handler for tourist company Adventure Zone and was preparing to move Mbanje the elephant into his paddock when he charged and trampled the 50-year-old man to death.

Mbanje (not pictured), the 30-year-old elephant, was shot to death after the attack.

A witness, who wished to remain nameless, told Zimbabwe newspaper Newsdaythat he didn’t see the attack happen but he heard it and saw the bloody aftermath.

“I heard him screaming and crying for help, but it was just for seconds. I then rushed to check on him and that is when I met the elephants walking on the road and I spotted Mbanje following from behind covered with blood all over,” he said.

“My blood went cold and I already knew what I was about to witness … he was torn apart, all body parts were ravaged.”

Kufandada’s son later went to the National Park and helped to gather his father’s body parts that were strewn across the ground, according to newspaper the Chronical.

But it was not just Kufandada that lost his life, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers shot and killed Mbanje after the incident.

Mbanje was one of the elephants the company used for their ‘Elephant Back Safari” attraction, with tourists riding him that very morning.

Adventure Zosne offers tourists the opportunity to ride the elephants with each led by a “professional Guide who is armed”. Picture: World Animal Protecion/AFP

Attractions that involve tourists coming into contact with and riding elephants have been under fire, with many venues, particularly across Asia, being exposed for keeping animals in poor living conditions.

Owner of Adventure Zone, Brent Williamson, announced Kufandada’s death in a statement saying he was a valued staff member and will “sincerely be missed”.

“The management and staff of Adventure Zone would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere condolences to Kufandanda’s family and friends for this tragic event,” he said.

“There is an ongoing investigation into how and why this incident occurred.”

Williamson also confirmed that the authorities had since “destroyed” Mbanje as a result of the attack.