Cape Times reports that the elephant involved in a fatal incident with a senior carer at the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development Trust (HERD) has been euthanised, following a failed attempt to relocate her in which she showed aggression to other staff.

HERD senior carer, Israel Shambira, was fatally gored by the 19-year-old female elephant named Limpopo earlier this month. In the days following the incident, the Trust’s carers remained in a state of heightened stress and concern, particularly regarding the safety of being near Limpopo. After consultation it was decided to move Limpopo along with six of her companions to a secure 35ha enclosure located approximately ten kilometres away.

Nine elephants were to remain at HERD. On 19 September, as the selected elephants started their walk from the HERD boma, within a few hundred metres the elephants from both groups began vocalizing and becoming very excitable. During the excitement, Limpopo showed hyper-aggression towards one of the carers and the operations manager. The escalating risk posed by Limpopo’s aggressive behaviour ultimately made her presence unpredictable and unsafe for all staff at HERD and on the reserve. Following further expert guidance and careful internal deliberation, HERD said it faced the devastating but unavoidable decision to euthanise Limpopo. Limpopo was humanely euthanised.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Cape Times

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