A 52-year-old fisherman has died after being attacked by a crocodile while fleeing a herd of elephants in eastern Zambia, police say. Dean Nyirenda was returning from a fishing trip with two friends when they unexpectedly encountered the elephants. In an attempt to escape, he dove into a stream near the Luangwa River, where he was bitten by a crocodile on his right thigh.
Local police chief Robertson Mweemba reported, That is when he was attacked by a crocodile by biting his right thigh. Reports suggest that Nyirenda fought back, managing to escape the crocodile by striking it with a stick before dragging himself from the stream. His friends saw the incident unfold from a distance, rushed to help him, and managed to carry him from the riverbank as he bled heavily.
Although they attempted to halt the bleeding, it was not enough, and he succumbed to his injuries. Wildlife officers later inspected the area and confirmed that deep bite marks on Nyirenda's thigh led to the fatal blood loss.
Authorities have noted that the southern African country hosts a significant elephant population, and conflicts between humans and wildlife have increasingly resulted in fatalities in recent years. In 2023, there were 26 recorded wildlife-related deaths, with 15 attributed to crocodile attacks, predominantly occurring along the Luangwa River. The Zambian government has been advising both locals and tourists to exercise caution in wildlife-rich areas and has considered measures, such as protective fencing near wildlife zones, to mitigate such conflicts.}
Local police chief Robertson Mweemba reported, That is when he was attacked by a crocodile by biting his right thigh. Reports suggest that Nyirenda fought back, managing to escape the crocodile by striking it with a stick before dragging himself from the stream. His friends saw the incident unfold from a distance, rushed to help him, and managed to carry him from the riverbank as he bled heavily.
Although they attempted to halt the bleeding, it was not enough, and he succumbed to his injuries. Wildlife officers later inspected the area and confirmed that deep bite marks on Nyirenda's thigh led to the fatal blood loss.
Authorities have noted that the southern African country hosts a significant elephant population, and conflicts between humans and wildlife have increasingly resulted in fatalities in recent years. In 2023, there were 26 recorded wildlife-related deaths, with 15 attributed to crocodile attacks, predominantly occurring along the Luangwa River. The Zambian government has been advising both locals and tourists to exercise caution in wildlife-rich areas and has considered measures, such as protective fencing near wildlife zones, to mitigate such conflicts.}
