Elephants attack man in KZN
Celani Sikhakhane, Scrolla
March 26, 2024
See link https://scrolla.africa/elephants-attack-man-in-kzn/ for video.
A 21-year-old man is fighting for his life in an Empangeni hospital after a
herd of elephants attacked him.
Mzobanzi Buthelezi from Ekudubekeni in KwaCeza, near Ulundi in northern
KwaZulu-Natal, had gone to fetch cattle from their grazing grounds on
Friday. But he never came back.
He was found badly injured on Saturday, with wounds to his thighs and groin.
Community member Xolani Msimango told Scrolla.Africa that Buthelezi was
found by another young man who was looking for the cattle.
“He heard him crying in the middle of the forest. This is where he found
Buthelezi, who had been injured by the herd.
“There are about 60 elephants in the herd that escaped from the Mawana Game
Reserve when the fence was destroyed.
“The whole community is under siege from these elephants,” said Msimango.
“They have been roaming around our area since 2018 after the death of
Mawana owner, Cornelius van der Walt, in 2017.”
Msimango said Buthelezi was lucky to be alive and that Van der Walt’s
son-in-law, Beyers Coetzee, was killed by the same elephants a few years
back.
Johannes Nuut of the Mawana Game Reserve told Scrolla.Africa that they
visited Buthelezi in hospital on Tuesday.
“We are going to create an account for him and raise funds to assist him
with his medical bills.
“It’s a painful experience that he had to endure. On our part we are busy
fundraising to get a fence that will help to stop these elephants
escaping,” said Nuut.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mtambo said they knew about the
recent incident but could not act because the game reserve is privately
owned.
https://scrolla.africa/elephants-attack-man-in-kzn/
Elephants attack man in KZN
Celani Sikhakhane, Scrolla
March 26, 2024
See link <https://scrolla.africa/elephants-attack-man-in-kzn/> for video.
A 21-year-old man is fighting for his life in an Empangeni hospital after a
herd of elephants attacked him.
Mzobanzi Buthelezi from Ekudubekeni in KwaCeza, near Ulundi in northern
KwaZulu-Natal, had gone to fetch cattle from their grazing grounds on
Friday. But he never came back.
He was found badly injured on Saturday, with wounds to his thighs and groin.
Community member Xolani Msimango told Scrolla.Africa that Buthelezi was
found by another young man who was looking for the cattle.
“He heard him crying in the middle of the forest. This is where he found
Buthelezi, who had been injured by the herd.
“There are about 60 elephants in the herd that escaped from the Mawana Game
Reserve when the fence was destroyed.
“The whole community is under siege from these elephants,” said Msimango.
“They have been roaming around our area since 2018 after the death of
Mawana owner, Cornelius van der Walt, in 2017.”
Msimango said Buthelezi was lucky to be alive and that Van der Walt’s
son-in-law, Beyers Coetzee, was killed by the same elephants a few years
back.
Johannes Nuut of the Mawana Game Reserve told Scrolla.Africa that they
visited Buthelezi in hospital on Tuesday.
“We are going to create an account for him and raise funds to assist him
with his medical bills.
“It’s a painful experience that he had to endure. On our part we are busy
fundraising to get a fence that will help to stop these elephants
escaping,” said Nuut.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mtambo said they knew about the
recent incident but could not act because the game reserve is privately
owned.
https://scrolla.africa/elephants-attack-man-in-kzn/