‘Domesticated’ elephant kills handler
Captured elephants "have killed quite a few people in recent years” - Glynnis Vaugham, ZNSPCA.
An elephant trained to give rides to tourists in Zimbabwe has reportedly killed one of its handlers.
According to The Telegraph, Mr Enock Kufandada was getting ready to put the elephant, Mbanje, into a paddock when it spun around and charged at him.
Responding to calls, Rangers at Victoria Falls ‘Adventure Zone’, shot and killed the elephant. The guide had worked for the company for more than 10 years.
Brent Williamson, who owns and runs Adventure Zone, told NewsdzeZimbabwe the company received the news “with deep shock.”
“I am in complete shock about the whole incident,” he said. “It’s with deep regret that we advise everyone that at 2.30pm on Saturday our domesticated elephant bull charged at one of our staff members and this resulted in our guide losing his life.”
But Glynnis Vaughan, chief inspector of the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) argues that African elephants can never be “domesticated”.
“Captured elephants which were used by several tourist companies have killed quite a few people in recent years,” she told The Telegraph.
“We should not be surprised when there are tragedies after elephants are captured in the wild when they are young, and taken from their families. Teaching a young elephant to get on to its knees so that people can mount it is vicious, it’s cruel."
An investigation is now underway to see what happened in the events leading up to Mr Kufandada’s death.
BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.
