Zambia elephant attack kills British and New Zealand tourists
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British, New Zealand Tourists Killed by Elephant in Zambia
The incident involved a female elephant accompanied by her calf at South Luangwa National Park. Efforts by tour guides to deter the charging elephant by firing shots were unsuccessful. The tourists had been staying for four days at the Big Lagoon Camp.
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.
British and New Zealand tourists killed in elephant attack – Daily News
The incident happened in South Luangwa National Park, about 600km from the capital, Lusaka. Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from New Zealand were part of a group on a walk. The two women were killed when an elephant with a calf charged at them. The incident is the latest in a series of fatal encounters involving elephants in Zambia, which has one of the world’s largest elephant populations.
The incident happened on Thursday inside South Luangwa National Park, about 600km (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said in a statement published by local media.
According to the statement, the tourists, Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from New Zealand were part of a guided group when the female elephant that was with a calf charged at them.
Safari guides accompanying the group had attempted to stop the elephant by firing shots, wounding the animal, but were unable to prevent the attack. Both elderly women died at the scene, the police commissioner stated.
Mweemba said the tourists had been staying at Big Lagoon Camp and were walking to Takwela Camp, where they were expected to cross the Luangwa River by canoe.
“They saw it [the elephant] charging at high speed, and because Alison Jean Taylor had a leg problem, she was caught first,” the Zambia Today news agency quoted the police chief as saying. “While the wildlife police officer fired warning shots, Easton Janet Taylor was caught as well,” he added.
The incident is the latest of a series of fatal elephant encounters involving foreign tourists in Zambia. In March 2024, an 80-year-old American woman was killed when a bull elephant charged and overturned a safari vehicle in Kafue National Park. In June, a 64-year-old American tourist was trampled near the Maramba Cultural Bridge in Livingstone while observing a herd from a parked vehicle.
Zambia is home to some of the most diverse and abundant wildlife populations in Africa, including the ‘Big Five’ – lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses. The landlocked country is endowed with 20 national parks and 36 Game Management Areas, covering roughly 30% of its total land area – one of the largest proportions dedicated to conservation on the continent, according to the Zambian Ministry of Tourism.
British tourist and friend killed by charging elephant on safari in Zambia
The pair were attacked by a charging elephant at Big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park. Police said safari guides attempted to deter the animal by firing shots and wounded it but were not able to prevent the attack. Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from New Zealand, died at the scene. Female elephants are known for being very protective of their calves and can therefore react aggressively if they perceive something to be a threat to them. The two women had stayed in the camp for four days and were going to another, named Takwela Camp, when they were killed by the elephant.
The pair were attacked by a charging elephant at Big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park, around 370 miles from the African country’s capital, Lusaka.
Police said safari guides attempted to deter the animal by firing shots and wounded it but were not able to prevent the attack.
Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba confirmed the tragic incident and named the victims as Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Jean Taylor, 67.
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The commissioner said the attack happened shortly after 6am local time yesterday (3 July). Both dying at the scene, the women were attacked by a female elephant that was accompanied by its calf.
The elephant was said to be with its calf (Getty Stock)
Female elephants are, of course, known for being very protective of their calves and can therefore react aggressively if they perceive something to be a threat.
Mweemba explained to reporters that two female tourists were taking a safari walk when they ‘spotted an elephant with a calf at a distance and diverted about 50m away’.
“But within few minutes after diverting a tea bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them,” he said.
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“He shouted ‘elephants’. As they turned to see, they saw it charging at a high speed and due to the fact that female Alison Jean Taylor, 67, of New Zealand had a leg problem, she was caught first.
“While the Wildlife Police Officer fired warning shots, female Easton Janet Taylor, 68, a British National was caught as well.”
The two women had stayed in the camp for four days and were going to another, named Takwela Camp.
As per 1News NZ, a local paid tribute to the pair: “Near Big Lagoon Bush Camp, at sunrise, a walk meant to explore turned sorrowful when a nursing elephant, accompanied by her calf, charged out of instinct.
South Luangwa National Park is a popular safari location. (Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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“Despite the presence of trained guides, the moment unfolded too swiftly.
“Alison and Easton had spent four peaceful days immersed in nature’s embrace. Their journey was meant to continue — but instead, we remember them for their courage, their curiosity, and their love for life’s wild places.”
On the South Luangwa National Park site, it says: “You don’t have to travel to the most remote areas of the park to see some amazing animal sights.
“In fact, don’t be surprised if a handful of elephants wander in and out of your camp, as they have a habit of making themselves welcome.”
An FCDO Spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Zambia and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Zambia elephant attack kills British and New Zealand tourists
Elephant kills British and New Zealand tourists in Zambia. The two women were part of a guided safari group. It is not clear whether the two victims were related to each other. Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate attacks by elephants in the southern African country. The incident happened at the Big Lagoon Camp, about 600 km (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka, police said. The elephants are very protective of their calves.
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Getty Images The elephant was shot and wounded, but still attacked the two women, police said (file photo)
Two female tourists, including a British pensioner, have been killed by a charging elephant while on safari in Zambia, police have told the BBC. Easton Taylor, 68, from the UK and 67-year-old Alison Taylor from New Zealand were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at the South Luangwa National Park, said local police chief Robertson Mweemba. The two tourists were trampled to death by the nursing elephant after efforts by tour guides to stop it by firing shots failed. Both women died at the scene, he said. The British Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British woman who had died in Zambia and was liaising with local authorities.
Mr Mweemba said the two women were part of a guided safari group who were walking in the park on Thursday when the elephant charged towards them at high speed. The two tourists had stayed for four days at the Big Lagoon Camp, about 600 km (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka, where the attack happened. “They were moving to other camps when the elephant charged from behind. We are really sorry that we have lost our visitors,” Mr Mweemba said. “They both died on the spot,” he added. It is not clear whether the pair were related. Female elephants are very protective of their calves and Zambian authorities have previously called on tourists to exercise extreme caution while observing wildlife around the country. “It is very difficult to control the animals and tourists like feeding them,” Mr Mweemba said. Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate attacks by elephants in the southern African country. Both cases involved elderly tourists who were in a safari vehicle when they were attacked. Additional reporting by Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya in Lusaka
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Getty Images/BBC
British tourist among two killed by elephant at Zambian national park
British woman and woman from New Zealand killed by elephant in Zambia. Easton Janet Taylor, 68, and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, were charged by a female elephant. Female elephants are known for their fierce protectiveness of their young. guides attempted to deter the animal by firing shots, but were unable to prevent the fatal attack. Both women died at the scene in the South Luangwa National Park, approximately 370 miles from the capital, Lusaka. This latest fatality follows two separate incidents last year where elderly American women were also killed by elephants while on safari. The women’s bodies have been taken to Mambew district hospital, he said.
A British woman and a woman from New Zealand have been killed by an elephant during a walking safari in Zambia.
The UK’s Easton Janet Taylor, 68, and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor were charged by a female elephant and her calf in the incident on Thursday morning, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said.
Safari guides attempted to deter the animal by firing shots, wounding the elephant, but were unable to prevent the fatal attack. Both women died at the scene.
The tragedy unfolded at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, approximately 370 miles from the capital, Lusaka. Female elephants are known for their fierce protectiveness of their young, often reacting aggressively to perceived threats.
The women were charged by a female elephant, police said (file photo) ( AP )
“[A] team bearer and two female tourists while taking a safari walk to a crossing point at Luangwa river spotted an elephant with a calf at a distance and diverted for about 50 meters away, but within few minutes after diverting, a [team] bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them,” Mr Mweemba said in a statement published by Zambia Reports.
“He shouted ‘elephant’, as they turned to see, they saw it charging at a high speed and since Alison Jean Taylor had a leg problem, she was caught first and while the Wildlife Police Officer fired warning shots, Female Easton Janet Taylor was caught as well.”
The two women were sisters, according to The New Zealand Herald. Alison was described by a neighbour as an “amazing woman” who had travelled to Antarctica as well as Africa.
The tourists had been staying at a safari camp for four days, and were on their way to another camp called Takwela which involves crossing the Luangwa River with a canoe. Mr Mweemba said it was on this journey through the bush that the tragedy occurred.
The women’s bodies have been taken to Mambew district hospital, he said.
Mr Mweemba said the elephant was wounded in the incident, after she was shot by the wildlife officer.
This latest fatality follows two separate incidents last year in Zambia, where elderly American women were also killed by elephants while on safari.
Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, was thrown from a vehicle in the city of Livingstone in 2024 as a group of tourists observed a herd of elephants. One of the elephants attacked the vehicle her, according to CBS News. Tourneau’s group stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge because of traffic caused by the herd. The woman had been visiting the country from New Mexico.
Another American tourist was killed earlier that same year in a similar attack. Gail Mattson, 79, from Minnesota, was killed in Zambia “while on her dream adventure” in March, her daughter, Rona Wells, told CBS News.