UK, New Zealand tourists killed by Zambian elephants during walking safari – National
Two female tourists were killed by an elephant in Zambia on Thursday at a walking safari in the national park, according to police.
Eastern Provincial Police Chief Robertson Mweemba said the victims – Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK, and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from New Zealand, were attacked and trampled by a calf.
Police say the safari guide with the group attempts to stop elephants from shooting at women by shooting at women.
“They were moving to other camps when the elephant was prosecuted from behind. We are really sorry for losing tourists,” Mwimba said. “They both died on the spot.”
The elephant was hit by gunfire and injured, but the tour guide was unable to prevent the elephant from attacking.
“It's difficult to control animals and tourists, such as feeding them,” Mwimba added.
It takes place in the Nanlongwawa National Park in eastern Zambia, about 600 kilometers from the capital of Lusaka.
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Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond positively to what they think is threatening.
Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia.
In March 2024, a bull elephant accused her of being killed while riding in Kafue National Park. Gail Mattson, 79, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, sued with other tourists, rolled over the vehicle and killed her while killing five more people.
Another American tourist was killed by an elephant in the Zambian city of Livingstone in another attack in June 2024.
Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, was killed when tourists watched a group of people watching their vehicles as they attacked their vehicles, threw Tourneau out and trampled on her, officials said.
They added that she was part of a group that stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge due to traffic caused by the elephant herd near the bridge.
Zambian authorities are calling on tourists to exercise caution while observing wildlife across the country.
In another incident in January this year, a 22-year-old tourist was killed by an elephant in a sanctuary in Thailand because the animal opened her while taking a shower.
Blanca Ojanguren García from northwest Spain joined her boyfriend at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre on January 3 when the elephant attacked her.
She was taken to a local hospital where she died.
Elephants kill about 500 people worldwide each year.
– Documents from Michelle Butterfield and the Associated Press from Global News
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
