Elephants, crocodiles kill 7 people at Malawi park

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The new managers of a wildlife park in Malawi say elephants and crocodiles have killed seven people in separate incidents over seven weeks in and around the park.

African Parks, a Johannesburg-based group, on Monday attributed the deaths in Liwonde National Park primarily to the fact that the reserve is unfenced and because poachers are illegally entering the park. The non-profit group, which took over management of Liwonde on Aug. 1, says the park's 80-mile (130-kilometer) perimeter will be fenced, which will take 18 months.

It says the dead include four people killed outside the park by crocodiles and crop-raiding elephants, as well as three poachers killed inside the park — one by an elephant and the other two by crocodiles. Another poacher lost his arm in a crocodile attack.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/59d0556918444d269298935ce40cab47/elephants-crocodiles-kill-7-people-malawi-park

---

Death sentence for poachers is just fine with me.

[oberliner]

1. Is your comment suggesting that you are glad these people were killed?

That seems pretty ghoulish.

[hobbit709]

2. Poachers getting a Darwin is fine by me.

[Omaha Steve]

3. The elephant crop raiding casualties no

Poachers got what they deserved. It is Cecil the lion all over. They were in the park. Professional risk.

three poachers killed inside the park — one by an elephant and the other two by crocodiles. Another poacher lost his arm in a crocodile attack.

[oberliner]

6. You think a fair punishment for poachers is death?

That seems extreme.

[Omaha Steve]

8. You missed the world's reaction to Cecil's death?

What is fair punishment for eliminating a species of rhino etc?

[oberliner]

10. What is fair punishment for slaughtering millions of cows, pigs, and chickens?

And for the hundreds of millions of Americans who are complicit in the torture and slaughter of those farm animals?

Maybe someone needs to give those animals names before they are tortured and killed by the millions in factory farms.

[Omaha Steve]

11. I asked about extinction

IF the poachers were not in the park, they would not be dead.

[oberliner]

12. I loathe poachers

I just think it's hypocritical to say that they deserve death while we in the US have a vast system of animal cruelty and slaughter that people seem comfortable with maintaining. Or at least don't seem to get as worked up about.

[Omaha Steve]

16. Some common ground

Rhino's and elephants are not a food crop.

We eat organic humanely raised & processed chicken exclusively, even though it costs more.

[oberliner]

19. Fair enough

I would point out that about 97 percent of animals raised for food comes from factory farms. I definitely respect people like you who make an effort to avoid contributing to the horrors that go on therein. I find what goes on there to be as loathsome as poaching, personally - the fact that those tortured and slaughtered animals are eaten and poached animals are not notwithstanding. In any case, I hope we can someday live in a world where poachers and factory farms no longer exist. As much as I loathe poachers (and factory farms), I don't wish death on those who take part in those horrid practices. Anyway, we are basically on the same side here - so I will just leave it at that.

[snooper2]

41. Yeah, but if we started eating and raising elephants their numbers would go up-

Problem is,

Takes them FOREVER to have just one baby. So we need to protect those creatures death for poachers no big deal-


Cows and Pigs and Chickens, since we breed them by the millions they will never go extinct.

Plus-

Doesn't this just make you want to lick the screen! YUMMMY!

[oberliner]

43. Understood

I am just saying that a lot of chickens, cows, and pigs are tortured and slaughtered on a regular basis and if one has empathy for the animals killed via poachers, it ought to be possible to extend that empathy towards those animals as well.

[restorefreedom]

18. if they had names

and if people were willing to accept that they have the same feelings as a dog, they wouldn't be able to eat them

willful ignorance, screaming denial, whateve you want to call it

but i do think it will change. the state of the planet is not going to support a meat based diet for much longer

the end is coming, although not soon enough for the ones suffering today.

[oberliner]

20. Great points

I think it's important for folks to at least be informed as to what they are eating and then they can make the choices they want to make accordingly. Hopefully someday there will be no more factory farms and no more poaching.

[restorefreedom]

23. i wish i would live long enough to see that

but i do think most of us will see a big change in eating habits...both for health and for the planet.

[Sunlei]

37. owners of abusive farms should be charged with felony animal cruelty.

Even the abusive transport and abusive slaughter houses should be shutdown. Those owners and drivers should be charged with crimes.

[restorefreedom]

17. china has a dp for poaching

and in kenya, life in prison

these killers go out to kill a sentient animal for profit. if they die while trying to do that, so be it.

i will save my sympathy for the billions of animals slaughtered, poached, and hunted.

for these guys, no.

[oberliner]

22. Good points

I just don't celebrate their deaths - in spite of their awful behavior. I certainly don't want us to become more like China as far as the DP is concerned.

[restorefreedom]

24. no they are not a good model to follow

i like that kenya is willing to impose life in prison.

as for celebrating, well....i don't celebrate the death of any creature (i saved a fruit fly from drowning in my kitchen sink the other day)

but i can't say i feel bad either, especially when it was not a human imposed death. they went out to kill and were killed instead. i like to think of it as karma paying it forward

[christx30]

26. It's not punishment.

Punishment happens after a crime. Death that occurs during a crime is an occupational hazard. Like someone working for the power company getting electrocuted.
I think life in prison would be a good punishment for the slaughter of endangered animals. But if a poacher is killed during the hunt, by the very animals he intends to kill, I'm good with that too. Poetic justice, if not actual justice.

[dorkzilla]

4. Poachers got what they deserved. Nt

[oberliner]

7. Poachers deserve death?

I am surprised to find such a reaction.

[dorkzilla]

13. Yes, they did. Intending to kill a sentient being (endangered no less) deserves in-kind end.

Are you suggesting human life is more important than other beings? Even if there are billions of us and fewer and fewer of them? Even if the poachers knew they were doing something illegal and immoral?

[oberliner]

14. I am anti-death penalty

I think poachers ought to be punished severely, but not killed.

[dorkzilla]

15. Nature meted out it's own sentence

Man could not intercede in these cases. So the death penalty analogy is moot.

[oberliner]

21. Understood

I for one take no joy in their deaths in spite of their loathsome behavior. I'll just leave it there.

[EX500rider]

25. "Are you suggesting human life is more important than other beings?" Ahhh..yes?

At least to other humans.....if a rino and a child are drowning and I can only save one I know which one it will be.

[dorkzilla]

28. You're entitled to your opinion - it's not an empirical fact that humans "count" more.

I must admit I'd save the rhino. They're not ruining the planet. If I was going to be shot to save an elephant I'd happily take a bullet for the creature.

[Sunlei]

5. animals are starving for enough food and space

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

30. So are people, in parts of Africa

It's possible that the poachers would rather have better jobs to feed their families.

These poachers died. The people who create the demand for ivory, they're doing just fine.

[Sunlei]

33. wildlife get a taste for humans and I bet those poachers aren't the only humans they have grabbed.

looks like the African gaters have increased in population & fat on human meat. *wink*

Elephants are looking bad though, they're thinner and much more 'spookie' to wards people.

In those wildlife parks tourists have reported many more times the elephants herds are very anxious when they see humans. They charge cars and chase longer distances, a lot more than they used to. They have been so heavily poached for decades.

[lonestarnot]

9. A death sentence of their own making.

[leftyladyfrommo]

27. If they hadn't been out there doing illegal poaching

they wouldn't have been killed. They know its against the law and its dangerous. And in some places they would have been shot on sight if they had been caught by guards. They know that.

Poaching gets the death penalty in some places in Africa.

Six poachers were shot and killed in India not very long ago. They were poaching tigers which are critically endangered.

[geek tragedy]

29. 3 dead poachers is a decent start. nt

[Sunlei]

34. I'm against the death sentence but I wouldn't mind if our American poachers had to..

spend a night dumped in Africa's gator waters

Instead, in America poachers get a misdemeanor conviction. One convicted by the Federal gov. poacher got millions in Federal gov. contract$$$ working with the same wildlife they got caught poaching.

[geek tragedy]

35. I think it depends what animal they're poaching in the US.

Gators aren't endangered. If someone poached a manatee, that would probably be a different story.

I hope it would be anyways, but in the land of Rick Scott . . .

[closeupready]

31. They were some mother's children. However, if they were

having a hand in helping to extinguish endangered wildlife, then I'd rather the one euthanized be the poacher than the wild creature.

No, it doesn't make me happy that they died. I believe in redemption, and that people can - at any moment - decide to do the right thing. But surely they were aware of the dangers of this occupation, so like mountain climbers, it's just the way it goes.

[uppityperson]

32. Poachers trying to make enough to feed their families are not the problem. Shame on those celebratin

Why they must sink to poaching to feed their families us the problem along with those who buy the poached animal bits.

Go after the buyers, help the poachers find another way to survive starvation.

Shame on those celebrating death rather than wondering how to stop pushing at the source (buyers) and find ways for the very poor to survive (eco-tourism for example)

[geek tragedy]

36. poachers are dangerous animals--they kill many more game wardens and park guards

than every wild animal species put together.

Good riddance to those going in to try to help drive animal species to extinction.

[Coventina]

38. Agree 100%. These are members of criminal organizations.

They aren't just heroic men fallen on hard times.

If that were the case, all African wildlife would be gone in the next 30 seconds.

[uppityperson]

39. I agree they can be dangerous. I am wondering what drives them to poaching, how to get them work tha

pays enough to support their families so they aren't poaching. Many of them are beyond dirt poor. Also shame on those who support it by buying the animal bits.

No market and another way to make a living would be better than saying "glad they die". IMO.

[alphafemale]

44. They are terrorists and murderers. Every one of them that dies is a good thing. nt

[yellowcanine]

40. Weird title makes it sound like crocs and elephants ganged up to attack people.

Then I see it is spread out over seven weeks. Strange way to headline a story.

[leftyladyfrommo]

42. Crocs and elephants

sounds like a Stephan Pastis cartoon. Those dumb killer crocs are always out to get the zebras.

I love his cartoons.