Safari in South Africa - Elephants trampling Spanish tourists to death in national park
In a National Park in South Africa, a Spanish tourist was killed by Elephants. According to the police and the National Park authority, the 43-year-old man had gotten out of his private car on Tuesday in the Pilanesberg National Park northwest of Johannesburg to photograph Elephants. An Elephant cow attacked the man and trampled him to death with her herd.
The Man Wanted to Photograph Elephants
The Spanish man, according to reports, had been traveling in a private car with his fiancée and two other women in the approximately 50,000 hectare large National Park on Sunday. When they spotted a small herd of three cow Elephants and three calves, the man got out of the car to take photos. "The Elephants attacked and killed him," said police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone.
The National Park and Tourism authority of the province of Northwest stated that a cow Elephant had first attacked the man. Unfortunately, he had not been able to escape or avoid the cow Elephant and her approaching herd. The animals had eventually "trampled him to death." Afterwards, the Elephants had withdrawn without paying attention to other vehicles and had disappeared into the bush.
Many Tourists Underestimate the Danger
The game warden of the authority, Pieter Nel, stated that the herd matriarch had become agitated when the man approached. It was "normal" for Elephants "to defend their young." "Many tourists are not aware of the danger and don't know how dangerous these animals can be," he added.
The other occupants of the car, all from Johannesburg, remained unharmed according to police reports. The police have launched an investigation into the incident.
In South Africa, it keeps happening that Elephants attack. In 2021, a poacher was trampled to death by Elephants in the famous Kruger National Park. Visitors to the parks are advised to always remain in their cars and keep their windows closed.
The Spanish tourist's fiancée and the two women in the car were from Johannesburg. Despite the incident, they continued their journey in South Africa. The National Park in question is a popular destination for Elephant sightings, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Automatic safari vehicles are often recommended for a safer viewing experience, given the unpredictable behavior of Elephants in the wild.
