UPDATE: One person injured by roaming elephant in Mkhuhlu

Six elephants are believed to have exited the Kruger National Park through a broken fence near the Phabeni Gate and crossed a dry riverbed in the early hours of Wednesday, September 4.

One person, Ndzalama Ndlovu, told Lowvelder he had been attacked by one of the elephant while he was harvesting tomatoes on his farm. “I did not see or hear the elephant walking towards me. I was hit and I fell to the ground. When I saw what was happening, that was when I realised it was the elephant. It struck me while I was on the ground. I was rescued by other people who were on the farm, who managed to scare the elephant away from me. They took me to a safe place and called the ambulance that transported me to the Matikwane Hospital. I am still in pain, but recovering very well,” he said.
He added that he was lucky to have escaped alive.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Elephants return to Kruger; locals disappointed by lost ‘free meat’ opportunity

SANParks and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency worked for several hours to safely return these elephants to the park. While many were relieved by their safe return, some local community members from the Bushbuckridge and Hazyview areas expressed their frustrations, as they believe the elephants should have been killed to provide food for their families.

“We tried for two hours to guide the elephants back, but community members blocked their path with bakkies and armed themselves with axes and machetes to kill the elephants for meat. The elephants became stressed, endangering people. The police were called to control the crowd. Fortunately, the elephants were unharmed and were returned to the park,” said the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s spokesperson, Simphiwe Shungube.

ALSO READ: Hazyview community prevents elephants from returning to Kruger Park 

Many believed the elephants would not make it through the night, but SANParks announced their safe return at about 20:40 on Wednesday.
SANParks’ spokesperson, Isaac Phaahla, condemned the community members’ actions, urging them to avoid interfering with authorities as it endangers both the animals and people.

Some community members who spoke to Lowvelder expressed their desperation for free wild meat due to high prices in stores. One individual, armed with an axe, had hoped to obtain elephant meat for his family and to be able to sell some to the other villagers. “It’s rare for an elephant to leave the park. When I saw them out, I joined in the hope of getting something for my family and making some money. I spent the entire night on the road, hoping they would take one down, but it didn’t happen,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Community members voice their concerns about elephants roaming freely in Matsulu

Another community member, Stanley Mgiba, said once wild animals cross into residential areas, they should be killed for people to enjoy their meat. “I was disappointed when I saw the police and rangers chasing them back to the park. I have been in some areas where elephants were taken down and their meat given to the people residing next to the park. But the good thing is that no one was injured and the animals are back in the park, though we still don’t have meat to eat,” he said.

Phaahla said efforts were under way to repair the broken fences through which the elephants had escaped. “The river levels are low, allowing the elephants to cross. We have since fixed the exit point and will monitor the area.”