Categories: Wildlife

Lorry kills two white rhinos in Zambian park

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 03:02 pm

Two rare white rhinos have been killed by a speeding lorry in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in southern Zambia.

One was a young male called Romeo and the other an adult female named Lubinda.

The pair suffered severe injuries when hit on Tuesday night on the Livingstone-Kazungula road that passes through the park.

Lubinda died on the spot. Romeo suffered a suspected fractured spine and he died soon after being sedated for treatment.

According to the WWF, southern white rhinos are classified as “near threatened” after decades of protection and management have boosted their numbers from near extinction.

Zacks Kalembwe, spokesperson for Zambia’s tourism ministry, told the BBC their deaths were a sad event.

“This is a very very unique species that we have,” he said.

“It’s this rareness that brings more tourists to our parks. The rhino species were completely wiped out [in Zambia] during the poaching scourge experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“It is deeply saddening to lose two members of the breeding herd in such a manner.”

The driver of the lorry is in police custody.

Mr Kalembwe said the tourism ministry was in the process of finding ways to protect animals from vehicles in national parks.

The possibility of having speed humps on animal crossing points within parks was under discussion with the road development agency, he added.

The spokesman also appealed to drivers to adhere to speed limits as they drove through national parks.

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

South African Group Petitions For Chidimma Adetshina’s Removal FromInternational Miss Universe Pageant Over Identity Fraud Allegations

A group called Progressive Forces in South Africa has launched a petition against MissUniverse Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina, with the aim…

November 5, 2024

Mauritius Reopens Social MediaAccess in Response to PublicPressure

Mauritius on Saturday overruled its decision to prohibit social media until the election onNovember 10th which was caused by a…

November 5, 2024

UAE Crown Prince Arrives in Ethiopia for WorldWithout Hunger Conference

The UAE’s Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed AlNahyan was in Addis Ababa…

November 5, 2024

Zimbabwe’s rich (Mbingas) linked to state looting

Gilbert Machokoto, a former teacher, said that setting up a business in the late 1980s, shortlyafter Zimbabwe's independence, was ‘like…

November 4, 2024

Historic Shift in Botswana as PresidentConcedes to Opposition Victory

Following elections in which the party that had ruled the diamond-rich nation for almost 60years suffered a historic setback. Botswana's…

November 4, 2024

Lightning Strike at Uganda Refugee CampClaims 14 Lives, Including Children

A lightning strike at a refugee camp in Uganda kills 14 people including children with 34 othershospitalized. The incident happened…

November 4, 2024

This website uses cookies.