AP
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Two female tourists from Zambia were killed by elephants on Thursday and killed on a safari walking in the national park, police said.
Eastern State Police Commissioner Robertson Mwemba said the victims — Easton Janet Taylor, 68, of England and Allison Jean Taylor, 67, of New Zealand — were attacked by female calf elephants.
A safari guide who was with the group tried to stop the elephant from firing a shot at it and prosecuting the woman, police said. The elephant was hit by gunshots and injured. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant attack, and both women were killed at the scene, police said.
It took place in South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the capital Lusaka.
Female elephants are extremely protective of calves and can respond proactively to what they perceive as a threat.
Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants from various parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were elderly women and were in safari cars when they were attacked.
