A 62-year-old ranger with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), Josphat Mandishara, tragically passed away on March 13, after being trampled by an elephant during a routine patrol in Kariba’s Gatche-gatche area.
ZimParks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the incident on March 14, stating that Mandishara was attacked at around 10 PM while returning to the harbor with two colleagues after docking their boat. At the time of the attack, his colleagues were engaged in another task, leaving Mandishara alone.
The statement clarified that Mandishara, along with his colleagues and a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) detail, had been on patrol and resupply duty at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme. While the others were occupied, Mandishara ventured alone to the harbor, where he encountered a startled elephant that fatally injured him.
Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police. ZimParks has since deployed rangers from the Charara Safari Area to manage the elephant involved.
The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, expressed condolences on behalf of the organization, acknowledging Mandishara’s dedication to wildlife conservation. ZimParks reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of staff and wildlife.
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