Two female tourists, including a British retiree, lost their lives after being charged by an elephant during a safari in Zambia, according to police reports.
The incident involved a female elephant accompanied by her calf at South Luangwa National Park, said local police chief Robertson Mweemba.
Efforts by tour guides to deter the charging elephant by firing shots were unsuccessful, resulting in both women being trampled to death at the location of the attack, he noted.
Mr. Mweemba added that the two women were part of a safari group that was walking in the park when the elephant lunged at them at high speed.
The tourists had been staying for four days at the Big Lagoon Camp, which is located approximately 600 km (370 miles) from Lusaka, where the incident occurred.
Female elephants are highly protective of their calves, and Zambian officials have previously urged tourists to exercise caution when observing wildlife in the country.
In the previous year, two American tourists were killed in separate elephant attacks in Zambia, both involving older visitors who were attacked while inside safari vehicles.
