Two elderly tourists, one British and one New Zealander, have died after being attacked by an elephant during a walking safari in Zambia.
The incident, confirmed by Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba, involved 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the UK and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand. They were reportedly charged by a female elephant accompanied by its calf.
Safari guides attempted to deter the animal by firing shots, wounding the elephant, but were unable to prevent the fatal attack. Both women died at the scene, police stated.
The tragedy unfolded at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, approximately 600 kilometres (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka. Female elephants are known for their fierce protectiveness of their young, often reacting aggressively to perceived threats.
This latest fatality follows two separate incidents last year in Zambia, where elderly American women were also killed by elephants while on safari, though in those cases, they were inside vehicles.
