The new managers of Liwonde National Park in Malawi, Africa, revealed that elephants and crocodiles are responsible for the deaths of seven people in separate incidents over the course of seven weeks.
The managers, Johannesburg-based African Parks, believe the deaths were due to the fact that the park is unfenced, and because poachers are illegally entering the park. It announced that while the reserve's 80-mile perimeter will be fenced in the future, it will take 18 months to do so.
Throughout the seven-week period, four people were killed outside the park by crocodiles and crop-raiding elephants. Additionally, three poachers were killed inside the park — one by an elephant and the other two by crocodiles. Another poacher survived his ordeal with a crocodile, but lost his arm in the process, according to the Associated Press.
African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead noted the level of conflict between people and wildlife at Liwonde was "almost precedented," which was one of the reasons the group was asked to take over management in the park, reported the Guardian. The group, which runs 10 wildlife areas in Africa, took over management Aug. 1.
Park managers noted, however, the violence goes both ways: since the beginning of August, poachers have killed two elephants in the park and a rhino calf was rescued from a wire snare.
