Just a heads up on the latest for anyone who may have an interest.

Just remember folks these are wild animals, Elephants know what they are doing and a guide does not always insure complete safety.

Oh and Bob Mugabe is crazy <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Cortesy of Worldtravel watch:

March 28th, 2007

Zimbabwe: Tourists Killed by Elephant; Political Crisis throughout the Country

By Larry Habegger | Add a Comment »

A British mother and daughter were killed by an angry bull elephant when they were on a walking safari in Hwange National Park March 24. They were accompanied by an armed guide and professional hunter but the guide missed when he tried to shoot the charging elephant. The woman and 10-year-old girl were trampled, and the husband and father of the two was seriously injured. Wildlife authorities and police are investigating to see if the guides were negligent. The elephant population in Hwange has reportedly soared in recent years with no regular culling measures in place, but culling is often not the answer, either, as it has been shown to stress elephant communities to the point where they sometimes lash out at humans. On a political note, strongman ruler Robert Mugabe is under increasing pressure to resign as the country’s economy and infrastructure crumble, opposition leaders are jailed, and protests are put down with force. The situation is unstable.