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Spanish tourist in South Africa trampled to death by elephants by Andre Smit
Officials say 43-year-old man exited his vehicle to take photos of a breeding herd at Pilanesberg National Park
A Spanish tourist has been trampled to death by elephants in a South African national park after allegedly trying to take pictures of a breeding herd that included three calves.
The 43-year-old man was killed on Sunday morning at Pilanesberg National Park about 130 miles (210 km) northwest of Johannesburg.
According to park officials, the man, who was with three friends, got out of his vehicle and walked up to the animals to take pictures.
“Despite warnings from his fellow passengers and occupants of two other vehicles who were at the sighting, he unfortunately did not heed their warnings,” the North West province’s parks and tourism board said in a statement.
“An adult elephant cow pounced on the man, who then ran from the elephant. Unfortunately, he was unable to escape or evade the elephant, which had now reached through the entire herd, and was captured and trampled to death.”
The board said the elephants then moved away without showing any aggression to the occupants of the vehicles.
Pieter Nel, the board’s chief conservation officer, told Agence France-Presse that the matriarch of the herd attacked after he became “agitated” by the man’s approach.
He said it was normal for elephants to try to defend their young, adding: “Many tourists are unaware of the dangers and don’t realise how dangerous these animals can be.”
The board said the “dangerous and unpredictable” nature of wild animals was always explained to visitors. “Tourists are forever educated about the importance of staying in the safety of the vehicle, respecting distance between vehicles and animals and allowing their first right of passage, and getting out only in specially designated areas,” the statement added.
The board extended its condolences to the deceased’s family and friends, saying it was “deeply saddened by this tragic incident”.
Elephant attacks are not uncommon in the region. In 2021, a suspected poacher in the Kruger National Park was killed by elephants.
Last year, 50 people were killed and 85 injured by wild animals – mostly elephants – in neighbouring Zimbabwe, according to local authorities.
Spain’s foreign ministry has been contacted for comment. According to reports, the victim was from the city of Zaragoza in the northeastern Aragón region. The central government’s representative in the region told La Vanguardia consular staff travelled to the scene of the accident to take possession of the man’s body and repatriate it.
source:Spanish tourist in South Africa trampled to death by elephants – Volkskrag News
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