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A 52 year old fisherman has died after a crocodile attacked him while he tried to escape a herd of elephants in eastern Zambia, police said.
The victim, identified as Dean Nyirenda, was returning from a fishing trip with two friends on Wednesday when they encountered the elephants near the Luangwa River.
Crocodile Attack During Escape
Police said the men ran in different directions to avoid the animals. Nyirenda jumped into a nearby stream as he fled.
Local police chief Robertson Mweemba said a crocodile attacked Nyirenda by biting his right thigh.
Nyirenda managed to fight off the crocodile by hitting it with a stick. He then pulled himself out of the water.
Victim Died From Heavy Bleeding
Nyirenda’s two companions rushed to help him. They carried him away from the riverbank while he was bleeding heavily.
Despite efforts to stop the bleeding, he later died from his injuries, police said.
Wildlife officers who visited the scene found deep bite marks on his right thigh. Officials said the wounds caused fatal blood loss.
High Risk Wildlife Area
The Luangwa River runs through South Luangwa National Park. Conservation groups say the river has one of the highest concentrations of Nile crocodiles in Africa.
Human wildlife conflicts are common in Zambia. The country has a large elephant population, and encounters with wild animals have increased in recent years.
Crocodile Attacks a Major Cause of Deaths
According to conservation group Resource Africa, 26 wildlife related deaths were recorded in Zambia in 2023. Crocodile attacks caused 15 of those deaths, mostly along the Luangwa River.
Zambian authorities have urged residents and tourists to take extra care in wildlife areas. Officials are also considering measures such as protective fencing to reduce human animal conflicts.
