Zambia: Attack from a wounded buffalo in Lukusuzi National Park in Chikomeni area of Lumezi District in Eastern Province has claimed the life of a poacher. The victim was accompanied by three other men who have escaped the attack unarmed.
The victim has been identified as 19 years old John Moyo. Tunga Kamanga, 40 year old resident of the Chelu Village of Chief Zumwanda area in Lumezi district reported the incident. The victim was his nephew and he had been attacked by a wild buffalo.
The incident happened on April 28, 2025 at around 10:00 hours and was reported on May 3, 2025 at around 16:40 hours at Lumezi Police Post.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba has confirmed the incident the members of the media.
Lundazi Police Station through Lumezi Police Post received a report of the death of John Moyo, 19 who was attacked and killed by a buffalo in Lukusuzi National Park in Lumezi district”, said Mweemba.
Brief facts of the matter are that on April 25, 2025 at around 06:00 hours, the now deceased John Moyo in the company of three others namely Lazarus Phiri 32, the gunman, Fredrick Mwale 28, and Jonathan Ndhlovu 26, went poaching in Lukusuzi National Park.
Police say the four were armed with one muzzleloader (man made rifle) on a three-day trip to the Lukusuzi national park.
Officer Mweemba said it is reported that on May 28, 2025, the four arrived in the park and at around 10:00 hours, they came across a herd of buffalos adding that they decided to shoot on one male buffalo for meat, unfortunately, the buffalo did not die on the spot.
He added that as the poachers started tracking the wounded buffalo, unknown to them, the beast had gone behind them and attacked from the rear. The buffalo charged at the now deceased, while the other three managed to escape by climbing onto trees during the attack.
After the animal had killed their friend and left the scene that the trio got down from the trees they sought refuge from and checked on their friend. The diseased victim had multiple open wounds on the body and on his stomach as a result of the animal attack.
As the surviving trio had to trek back home for three days, they could not take the body of their deceased colleague with them adding that they decided to leave it in the park.
The Park Ranger in Lundazi district has since been informed about the matter and arrangements to visit the scene, and retrieve the body of the deceased are being made.