‘Problem’ elephant killed at Okapundja

An elephant bull believed to have killed a 64-year-old man at Okatumba village in the Kunene Region about two weeks ago has been killed by conservation officers. The elephant was shot by officials of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism after a 13-day hunt. According to a game guide Kevin Kenahama, who was part of the hunting party, the elephant was shot around 08:30 on Thursday, about 55 km south of Opuwo at Okapundja village. “The violent elephant stormed the game guides and the community who were tracking it and three other elephants for the past days,” said Kenahama. The chairperson of the Okongoro Conservancy, Zahungama Mujenda, said the elephant bull’s meat was distributed among some of the 300 residents of the conservancy. Villagers of Okapundja, Omireko, Otjerunda and Okatumba villages all feared going into the bush because of the aggressive elephant bull.