Elephant attack damages 74-year-old’s house in Okongwe

A 74-year-old pensioner’s home in Okongwe village was extensively damaged after a bull elephant ripped off roofing sheets and broke through walls while searching for livestock feed.

The house of Hulda Karumendu suffered heavy structural damage during the late-night incident, which residents say began at around 21:00 last Tuesday and continued until about midnight. No injuries were reported, but Karumendu did not return to sleep at the property that night, fearing the elephant might return.

Resident Veripurua Mureti said the animals first arrived at local water points before moving through the settlement.

“The bull elephant removed the whole roof and started eating the fodder that was stored inside,” he said. “It broke the roof open and broke the wall, taking out the bags and hitting them on the ground to eat.”

Images from the scene show twisted metal roofing, collapsed and cracked walls and scattered feed bags. A neighbour reportedly used a vehicle to chase the elephants away after several hours.

Mureti said the same bull elephant has been linked to earlier incidents, warning that the animal is becoming a growing threat to residents.

“It is not the first time that this bull has done something like this,” he said. “Till when should the community live with wild animals that are threatening them?”

According to residents, the elephants remain in the area and could return, with a herd believed to number more than 20.

Mureti said water infrastructure and elephant waterholes established near community water points have not reduced conflict, arguing that the proximity of water sources to homesteads continues to draw animals closer to residents.

He also claimed that earlier damage in neighbouring areas had never been repaired or compensated.

“Even the last time when things were damaged, nothing was rebuilt. Those things are still standing damaged up to now,” he said.