This story is being posted here, not because it is cryptozoological, but because it appears to relate to the recent discussion regarding the San Francisco Zoo tiger event.

Tusker, a large 50 year old bull African elephant (seen in this October 2007 photograph) was shot dead on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at Charara camp on the shores of Lake Kariba, 370 kilometres northwest of Harare, Zimbabwe.

The elephant had trampled several cars at a safari camp after being provoked by revellers at a new year party, say conservationists in Zimbabwe.

Johnny Rodrigues, of the independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, disputed a claim by park rangers that the one-tusked elephant had become a danger to people and had been classified as a “problem animal”.

“Tusker was the resident Charara elephant … he was a legend and a favourite of tourists and locals alike,” said Mr Rodrigues, who claimed that music from the party could be heard for miles around and that witnesses reported that drunken party-goers had taunted the elephant by throwing bottles, lighting fireworks, flashing car lights and even plucking hairs from its tail and slapping its rump.

“Despite this senseless abuse, we have had no reports of Tusker hurting anyone, which is testament to his basic good nature. It is shocking that these parties where drugs and alcohol are abused should be permitted in wildlife areas,” he added.

Sources: Angus Shaw, Associated Press, Independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.