The circumstances surrounding the death of Bhekisabelo Nyawo remain unclear. It is believed Nyawo was last week killed by an elephant on the eastern shores of the Pongolapoort Dam in KZN.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo said it is believed that two people entered the Pongola Nature Reserve looking for their missing cattle in the eastern shores section of the Phongolo Nature Reserve.

“At some point, they came across a herd of elephants. The information about what transpired at that time is still fuzzy. All that is known is that the bull elephant attacked the two men, and one person escaped unharmed. The second person was unfortunately killed on the scene. The person who survived alerted the family of the deceased,” said Mntambo.

He added Ezemvelo was informed of the incident on Tuesday night. A decision was then taken to delay any rescue attempts due to the presence of a herd of elephant where Nyawo’s body was discovered.

The incident was also reported to the SAPS at Ingwavuma.

SAPS Search and Rescue Team dispatched

“In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the SAPS Search and Rescue Team was dispatched to assist with the recovery of the deceased. It is difficult to know what might have caused the attack. It should, however, be noted that there have been several incidents of elephants being shot at by poachers in the area.

“This has resulted in most elephants being unpredictable and dangerous. The elephant that killed this person may have been perhaps wounded, or might have been harassed by people before the incident. The elephants, though often seen roaming within Ezemvelo’s Phongolo Nature Reserve, belong to the adjacent private Pongola Game Reserve East,” said Mntambo.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO Sihle Mkhize said they were saddened by the loss of life inside the nature reserve.

“We hope that this unfortunate incident will serve to bring the community and the nature reserve to work together so that we shall prevent such future incidents.” said Mkhize.

Mkhize said Ezemvelo will again initiate engagement with the legal owners of these elephants so that they can be recaptured.

Nyawo will tomorrow be buried at Galweni, Ngwavuma, in northern KZN.