Spanish tourist killed by elephant in Pilanesberg
Hein Kaiser, Citizen
July 8, 2024
See link
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/spanish-tourist-killed-by-elephant-in-pilanesberg/
for photo.
A tourist was killed on Sunday afternoon in Pilanesberg National Park after
an elephant attacked him. The individual, said to be a Spanish man, stepped
out of his car to take a picture, sources said.
A park visitor said that their family was on a game drive and saw an
ambulance rush past yesterday afternoon, presumably to collect the injured
tourist. The seriously injured man was rushed to hospital but later
succumbed from his injuries.
While no official statement has been issued yet, several sources at the
Pilanesberg National Park confirmed the incident.
“Visitors to the park must realise that these are wild animals,” said the
source at the park who wished to remain anonymous, as provincial
authorities have yet to issue a statement.
“You cannot simply get out of your vehicle and approach an animal. Selfies
or getting closer photo opportunities with an animal that may see you as a
threat or invader of their territory can have dire consequences,” they
added.
Other attacks by wild animals
In April this year, a 79-year-old tourist was killed and four others
injured when an aggressive elephant bull charged and overturned a safari
vehicle in Zambia’s Kafue Park. A month prior, social media was awash with
videos that showed a safari incident where a male elephant and a safari
vehicle were at a stand-off in Pilanesberg.
On 24 June this year, a game farm worker’s worst nightmare came true on
Sunday after a man was mauled to death by a lioness while fixing a fence
and installing a gate.
The Free State police have opened an inquest case after a 43-year-old game
farm worker was mauled to death by a lioness on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Captain Lorraine Earle said the victim and his
supervisor had just finished putting up a gate at one of the game farm’s
lion enclosures.
The source said that an official statement on the elephant attack will be
made by the North West Parks and Tourism Board later today.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/spanish-tourist-killed-by-elephant-in-pilanesberg/