Mozambique army puts elephants in sights

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2007

MAPUTO (AFP) — The Mozambican government on Monday authorised soldiers to gun down wild animals who are seen as a threat to human beings after a new report highlighted an increase in the number of deadly attacks.

"The number of people killed by wild animals keeps increasing," said the government-sponsored report which found that around 300 people had been killed in the last decade.

Elephants and crocodiles were responsible for most of these deaths, said government spokesman Luis Covane.

"The government has therefore decided to authorise the armed forces to intervene to defend the resident population, particularly in dangerous regions, against attacks by wild animals," he said.

A campaign to collect crocodile eggs began last month in the River Zambezi...