Woman Killed by Elephant in Omusati Village
By Aneli Fura
A woman died after she was attacked by an elephant at Ongulumbashe village in the Omusati Region on Thursday morning.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11h42 after community members followed the tracks of an elephant that had been seen in the area the previous night. According to information from the community, a herd of about eight elephants was spotted near several households at around 20h00 on Wednesday, raising concern among residents.
It is alleged that one of the villagers shot at one of the elephants, striking it in the left leg in an attempt to drive the animals away from the settlement.
On Thursday morning, residents reportedly followed the wounded elephant’s tracks into the nearby bush where they found the animal lying down. Believing it was either dead or asleep, the woman allegedly approached it, touched its tail and attempted to take photographs.
However, the elephant suddenly attacked her, killing her instantly at the scene.
Omusati Regional Police Commissioner Ismael Basson attended the scene and warned community members to remain vigilant, particularly during this time of the year when elephants are known to move closer to villages.
Basson also urged residents to report sightings of wild animals immediately to the police or the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism so that the situation can be handled safely.
