Ministry says put down elephant posed danger to residents
Environment minister Indileni Daniel has said the elephant bull that was put down near Onawa village in the Omusati Region on Saturday posed a serious threat to human life.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Daniel said the ministry had to take a “difficult but necessary decision” to kill the animal after several days of unsuccessful attempts to guide it safely back to Etosha National Park.
“This decision was taken with great reluctance and only after several days of intensive monitoring and repeated unsuccessful efforts to safely guide the animal back to the national park,” she said.
Daniel explained that the elephant was first sighted in the Otjivarunda area following recent wildfires that spread from Etosha into the north-central regions. Driven by instinct, it moved northwards, away from the burnt terrain. On 8 October, it was seen near Onkani village, heading northwest.
She said MEFT officials tracked its movement closely and attempted to redirect it towards the park. Despite these efforts, the elephant continued advancing into densely populated areas, including Onaanka and Onaanda villages, before crossing both the Oshakati–Okahao and Oshakati–Outapi roads.
Difficult decision
Along the way, it damaged infrastructure and heightened public fear.
By 11 October, the elephant had reached Onawa village, close to residential areas and schools.
“With panic escalating among residents and the risk to human life becoming imminent, MEFT was compelled to make the difficult decision to put the animal down to prevent potential harm,” Daniel stated.
She said the ministry “strongly” condemns the circulation of graphic images of the dead elephant on social media, calling such acts “disrespectful” and harmful to both wildlife and communities.
“Members of the public are urged to exercise restraint and refrain from sharing photos or videos of community members cutting up the carcass,” Daniel said.
She reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to coexistence between humans and wildlife, stressing that the incident underscores the urgent need for more education and awareness on human–wildlife conflict, particularly during environmental crises.
“MEFT will continue working with communities to strengthen safety measures, promote conservation ethics, and uphold the values of respect and responsibility in our shared landscapes,” she added.Daniel said. [email protected]
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Daniel said the ministry had to take a “difficult but necessary decision” to kill the animal after several days of unsuccessful attempts to guide it safely back to Etosha National Park.
“This decision was taken with great reluctance and only after several days of intensive monitoring and repeated unsuccessful efforts to safely guide the animal back to the national park,” she said.
Daniel explained that the elephant was first sighted in the Otjivarunda area following recent wildfires that spread from Etosha into the north-central regions. Driven by instinct, it moved northwards, away from the burnt terrain. On 8 October, it was seen near Onkani village, heading northwest.
She said MEFT officials tracked its movement closely and attempted to redirect it towards the park. Despite these efforts, the elephant continued advancing into densely populated areas, including Onaanka and Onaanda villages, before crossing both the Oshakati–Okahao and Oshakati–Outapi roads.
Difficult decision
Along the way, it damaged infrastructure and heightened public fear.
By 11 October, the elephant had reached Onawa village, close to residential areas and schools.
“With panic escalating among residents and the risk to human life becoming imminent, MEFT was compelled to make the difficult decision to put the animal down to prevent potential harm,” Daniel stated.
She said the ministry “strongly” condemns the circulation of graphic images of the dead elephant on social media, calling such acts “disrespectful” and harmful to both wildlife and communities.
“Members of the public are urged to exercise restraint and refrain from sharing photos or videos of community members cutting up the carcass,” Daniel said.
She reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to coexistence between humans and wildlife, stressing that the incident underscores the urgent need for more education and awareness on human–wildlife conflict, particularly during environmental crises.
“MEFT will continue working with communities to strengthen safety measures, promote conservation ethics, and uphold the values of respect and responsibility in our shared landscapes,” she added.Daniel said. [email protected]
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