ef: 9/2/2 – 12 - KNP
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
ELEPHANT ATTACK AND INJURED TOURISTS
A couple tourists was 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 couple was assisted by a passing motorist and the Pretoriuskop Section Ranger was alerted of the incident who then informed the Operational Commander. A helicopter was dispatched to the scene to assist the injured couple who were airlifted to Skukuza to receive emergency medical treatment from the Skukuza Doctors. After being stabilised, they were flown to a nearby hospital in Nelspruit.
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.
The bull elephant was euthanized and upon inspection it was 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.
Tourists are requested to always keep a safe distance ant any animal sighting as they can be dangerous at times.
....End
Issued by:
Communications and Marketing Department, Kruger National Park on behalf of the Media Relations Practitioner. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4300
Enquiries:
William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations and Communication, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919 or email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
ELEPHANT ATTACK AND INJURED TOURISTS
A couple tourists was 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 couple was assisted by a passing motorist and the Pretoriuskop Section Ranger was alerted of the incident who then informed the Operational Commander. A helicopter was dispatched to the scene to assist the injured couple who were airlifted to Skukuza to receive emergency medical treatment from the Skukuza Doctors. After being stabilised, they were flown to a nearby hospital in Nelspruit.
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.
The bull elephant was euthanized and upon inspection it was 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.
Tourists are requested to always keep a safe distance ant any animal sighting as they can be dangerous at times.
....End
Issued by:
Communications and Marketing Department, Kruger National Park on behalf of the Media Relations Practitioner. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4300
Enquiries:
William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations and Communication, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919 or email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org
