A tragic wildlife encounter in eastern Zambia has claimed the life of 52-year-old fisherman Dean Nyirenda, highlighting the ongoing human-wildlife conflicts in the region. The incident occurred Wednesday when Nyirenda and two companions encountered a herd of elephants while returning from a fishing expedition near the Luangwa River.
According to local police chief Robertson Mweemba, the group attempted to flee the elephants, with Nyirenda seeking refuge in a nearby stream connected to the Luangwa River. This decision proved fatal when a Nile crocodile attacked, seizing the fisherman’s right thigh in its powerful jaws.
Despite managing to fight off the reptile by striking it with a stick he carried, Nyirenda sustained catastrophic injuries. His companions, who had been observing from a distance, rushed to his aid and transported him from the riverbank while he experienced severe bleeding. Their attempts to stem the blood loss proved unsuccessful, and Nyirenda succumbed to his injuries.
Wildlife officers subsequently examined the scene and confirmed deep bite marks on the victim’s thigh as the cause of fatal hemorrhaging. The Luangwa River, which courses through Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, maintains one of Africa’s densest populations of Nile crocodiles according to conservation experts.
Statistics from community-led conservation NGO Resource Africa reveal crocodile attacks represent a significant threat in the region. Of the 26 wildlife-related fatalities recorded in 2023, 15 resulted from crocodile encounters, with most occurring along the Luangwa River corridor.
Zambian authorities have repeatedly urged both residents and tourists to exercise extreme caution when navigating wildlife-rich areas. Wildlife officials are reportedly evaluating mitigation strategies, including potential installation of protective barriers near human settlements, to reduce these dangerous interspecies encounters.