Tusker, the friendly but boisterous Zimbabwean elephant, has been summarily "executed" after damaging several cars during a wild New Year's Eve party in the resort town of Charara, near Lake Kariba.
Wildlife authorities shot the bull elephant despite appeals from conservationists and a petition signed by 4 000 nature lovers from across the world appealing for clemency.
In a press statement, Johnny Rodriques, of the Zimbabwean Conservation Task Force, lamented the death of Tusker on Sunday.
He said the shooting had been scheduled for Monday, "so it came as a great shock to hear that he was shot (on Sunday)".
| 'New Year's Eve party at Charara was the straw that broke the camel's back' |
At least one such tent was occupied at the time and the authorities feared Tusker would kill or hurt someone.
"But the New Year's Eve party at Charara was the straw that broke the camel's back," Rodriques said.
During a loud party in which drugs and alcohol were reportedly abused, youngsters pulled hair out of Tusker's tail, slapped him on the rump, flashed their car lights, hooted and threw firecrackers and bottles at him.
"Despite all this senseless abuse, we had no reports of Tusker hurting anyone, which was testament to his basic good nature," Rodriques said.
"His crime, which led to his death, is that he damaged some cars in his search for food. It is not clear how many cars were damaged. We have had reports that the number was between two and seven.
"The authorities will probably argue that they have a responsibility to protect the humans and that it would only have been a matter of time before Tusker killed somebody.
"Our argument is that a party of this magnitude, which is attended every year by thousands of youngsters, should not be held in a national park."
This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Times on January 08, 2008
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