elephant atTACK AND injured tourists

elephant atTACK AND injured tourists

by BRIAN KAJENGO

a couple tourists injured when an elephant bull attacked their vehicle in the Kruger National Park in the afternoon of Monday 30 December 2013.

The incident took place in the southern part of Kruger National Park along the N’waswitshaka Waterhole south of the Phabeni tarred road. 

The elephant was walking in front of the couple’s vehicle whilst they were videoing it from behind for a period of time and it suddenly stopped, turned around and rapidly walked towards the vehicle which was stationery at that time.

The elephant charged at them, attacked the vehicle and flipped it over off the road into the thick bushes.

“The female tourist was seriously injured by one of the elephant’s tasks which perforated and ripped open the back of her upper thigh. The male tourist suffered minor injuries.” William Mabasa said.

A passing motorist assisted the couple and the Pretoriuskop Section Ranger alerted of the incident who then informed the Operational Commander. A helicopter dispatched to the scene to assist the injured couple who airlifted to Skukuza to receive emergency medical treatment from the Skukuza Doctors. After being stabilised, they have flown to a nearby hospital in Nelspruit.

“The bull elephant euthanized and upon inspection it discovered to have been on musth which is probably the reason for the aggression levels were higher and the abnormal behaviour was also as result of the injury the elephant had subsequently suffered prior to the incident.” William Mabasa said.  

Tourists requested to always keep a safe distance at any animal sighting as they can be dangerous at times.