The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, says the Ministry’s policy provides for the destruction of an animal that has killed a person. Muyunda’s remarks come after an Angolan national was fatally attacked by an elephant last night at Otjorute Village in the Ruacana area of Uukolonkadhi Conservancy.

Muyunda says the reason for the destruction of an animal that has killed a person is that such an animal may have lost fear of people, and based on its current aggression, it may cause more damage and harm. 

“We have protocols in place to identify the culprit animals,” said Muyunda, further describing the incident as regrettable and unfortunate.

At the start of February this year, the chairperson of the Uukolonkadhi Subsistence Farmers Group, Johannes Shimbilinga, wrote to the officials within the ministry expressing his concerns about the particular elephant.

"Currently, there is an elephant that walks alone and has become a threat to cattle herders' lives as it is chasing people and vandalising cattle posts, boreholes, and sleeping huts. In most cases, it is reported that once it sees any human being passing by, it chases them as well.” 

Shimbilinga added that “the community feels this elephant needs to be at least considered dangerous and should be taken away from the community by any means, including killing, in case there are no other