A woman and her three-month-old baby in southeastern Zimbabwe have been trampled to death by an elephant, the national parks authority said on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old woman from rural Chipinge district had taken her baby to visit relatives in a neighbouring community on New Year's Day and was returning home when they encountered a herd of elephants.

"An elephant then suddenly attacked and killed her on the spot together with her baby," Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesman Tinashe Farawo told AFP.

Conflict between humans and wildlife is a significant problem in remote parts of Zimbabwe, caused in part by population growth.

According to Zimparks, 40 people were killed between January and October last year alone.

Paraguayan soldier killed by deer in presidential garden
Asuncion (AFP) Jan 4, 2022 - A sergeant in the Paraguayan presidential guard died after he was gored by a deer roaming the grounds of the presidential palace, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Victor Isasi "died from a perforation in the thorax" after he was attacked by the deer at dawn, said Colonel Victor Urdapilleta.

The chital, a native of the Indian subcontinent, is among several animals kept in the 10 hectare gardens of President Mario Abdo Benitez's official residence near the capital Asuncion.

The grounds mostly host native species such as rheas, macaws and an mborevi (a South American tapir), said Urdapilleta.

"On the security camera you can see (the sergeant) enter the sector where these animals are and he makes a movement (lifts a hand) that provokes the deer's reaction," said Urdapilleta.

The soldier was on a routine patrol.

Urdapilleta said the next of kin would be compensated.

Frederic Bauer, director of wildlife at the environment ministry, said the chital was part of a litter reared on a government ranch in Paraguay.

He admitted that "it is not appropriate to have exotic animals in captivity but there is no regulation."

Urdapilleta also said the officials responsible for the presidential grounds had consulted with the environment ministry before incorporating chitals in the gardens.

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Runaway frenzied elephant herd breaks into Bangladesh park
Cox'S Bazar, Bangladesh (AFP) Jan 2, 2022
A herd of endangered wild elephants are rampaging through a safari park in Bangladesh, with officials warning Sunday the creatures were acting aggressively and posed a serious safety threat. The herd of at least 13 elephants knocked down a seven-foot (two-metre) concrete wall to break into the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, north of the resort city of Cox's Bazar, earlier this week. "They are very restless, frightened and acting as if they are cornered. They are now very dangerous for oth ... read more