killed by an Elephant???

[Mortblanc]

[Skean Dhude]

I understand that in Africa lots of people are killed by Hippos who simply walk to the next patch of food and squash people underfoot. No malice just a bungling large animal not thinking and people too dumb to get out of the way because Hippos aren't seen as dangerous. (Pretty much defines our Government processes too )

[Mortblanc]

My understanding is that hippos are responsible for more deaths in Africa than any other beast!

As you say, they fan out over the countryside to graze at night and have nasty tempers too boot. We think of them as river dwellers but that is their daytime pursuit.

Probably best to stay indoors after dark.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world with one of the lowest annual income levels, and has no industrial base. Almost 100% rural and agricultural.

I have friends in Malawi and have never heard them speak of a poaching problem. Perhaps I was too busy laughing at the explosive diarrhea and goat head on a bed of rice stories.

Of course the wildlife management officers in my own area are constantly catching poachers and I never hear about that either.

[Skean Dhude]

and lets not forget Cows. Apparently they are the biggest single killer of Farmers in the UK.

Because these animals are not considered dangerous people are careless about them and when you get careless about an animal that weighs several tons you don't get second chances.

[LAC]

Interestingly MB. I've been on safari in Kenya and in our open air safari truck we were accompanied by two game keepers, both of whom had loaded assault rifles. I asked don't you guys use tranquilizer guns? One just solumnly shook his head. No, he said, it takes too long to work. If an animal presents a danger to tourists we just shoot it dead, we don't take any chances, although we have respect for the animals, they are all dangerous. Even ones people don't think are dangerous, like zebras, can be very dangerous and very aggressive. The one we watch for the most though is the black rhino, if it's very angry it could overturn this vehicle and stamp all of us to death given the chance. Opened my eyes - even just going on a safari as a tourist is a potentially dangerous experience.

[MaryN]

I suppose there is a lesson in this.... don't tick off the wild animals.

[Skean Dhude]

As a default you should tick off as few creatures as possible. I was savaged by a chicken a few weeks ago. It thought it was fighting for its life, it was, and I received a long and deep scratch on my forearm. That can prove fatal in an survival situation.

[Mortblanc]