Two tourists from UK and New Zealand killed by elephant, Zambian police say | Zambia

Two women tourists from the United Kingdom and New Zealand were killed by an elephant during a safari on foot in a national park in Zambia, police of the Southern African Pays said.

Police commissioner of the East Province, Robertson Mweemba, said that the victims, whom he had appointed Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the United Kingdom and Alison Jean Taylor, 67 years old from New Zealand, were attacked by an elephant woman who was with a calf.

The safari guides who were with the group tried to prevent the elephant from recharging the women by firing gunshots, the police said. The elephant was struck and injured by the gunshots. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant attack and the two women died on the scene, police said.

This happened in South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, about 600 km (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka.

Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats.

Last year, two American tourists were killed during separate meetings with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In both cases, tourists were also women and were on a safari vehicle when they were attacked.