Dangerous Animal Incidents

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

SA tourist trampled to death by elephant in Zimbabwe
By SHARON MAZINGAIZO - 18 October 2021 - 17:18


A South African tourist was trampled to death by an elephant in front of his son at a wildlife park in Zimbabwe.

The incident happened on Wednesday in Mana Pools National Park along the Zambezi River.

Michael Bernard Walsh, 71, a veterinarian from Cape Town, was charged at by the female elephant.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the tuskless female elephant charged at the tourist and his 41-year-old son as they took a morning walk in the park.


“It is with great sadness that a 71-year-old South African vet was trampled to death by an elephant in Mana Pools in full view of his 41-year-old son. He has been visiting the park since 1986,” said Farawo.

“The father and son had left their car about 40m from the scene of the incident. Because of age, unfortunately, the man couldn’t escape to the vehicle. His son watched as the elephant killed his father.”

Zimbabwe has seen an increase in human-wildlife conflict, with more than 40 people killed by wild animals since January, while several others were injured. Competition for limited resources leads to animals straying closer to human communities in search of food and water. Recently an anti-poaching unit senior officer was trampled to death by an elephant in Victoria Falls.

The country has the second-largest number of elephants in the world. The 100,000-strong population is controlled through culling, hunting and conversation efforts by Zimparks. Every year since 1992, Zimbabwe sells permits to hunt 500 elephants to generate public revenue.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... -zimbabwe/

[Lisbeth]

I wonder if they were supposed to get out of the car Maybe the elephant had never seen someone on foot

Zimbabwe has seen an increase in human-wildlife conflict, with more than 40 people killed by wild animals since January, while several others were injured. Competition for limited resources leads to animals straying closer to human communities in search of food and water.

Not relevant to the above

[RogerFraser]

Elephant storms safari vehicle

https://lowvelder.co.za/760773/elephant ... i-vehicle/



n a video widely circulated on social media, an elephant is seen storming a safari vehicle. It is unclear when the incident occurred.

Alan Storm, the CEO of EcoTraining, has confirmed the incident, but was unable to comment further on the matter as it was still being investigated.

EcoTraining branding is visible in the video. Storm said it happened in the Selati Game Reserve near Hoedspruit.
Further details and the events leading up to the elephant storming the vehicle are still unclear.

[Lisbeth]

I hope that the tracker was safe too

[RogerFraser]

https://www.facebook.com/EcotrainingAfr ... 1655724328

FB Post: EcoTraining

EcoTraining confirms the unfortunate incident of the video that is currently doing the rounds in the digital space. Please read our joint Press Release below:
𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘
Elephant impacts game drive vehicle
Sunday 28 November 2021, an elephant bull in musth damaged an EcoTraining vehicle on the Selati Game Reserve.
On a routine activity, the EcoTraining instructors and trainees came across a breeding herd of elephants. The vehicle stopped to observe the elephants and give them a chance to settle down. An elephant bull, who was with the breeding herd, mock charged the vehicle. The elephant bull mock charged again, when they moved forward slowly, and then made contact with the game drive vehicle and displaced it off the road. Once the vehicle had come to a standstill, the trainees were moved to the second vehicle that was parked in close proximity. Both EcoTraining instructors that accompanied the trainees have more than 25 years of experience in the field.
The General Manager of Selati Game Reserve, Mr. Bryan Havemann, was contacted shortly after the incident and went to the scene to assess the situation. Havemann said, “although the vehicle was damaged, thankfully none of the people on the vehicle were injured.”
EcoTraining said that all the people involved in the incident have received professional counseling after the incident.
Elephant bulls in musth experience high levels of testosterone and may display aggressive behaviour.

[Lisbeth]

may display aggressive behaviour.

That is quite clear IMO

[Richprins]

Lucky no injuries!

[Peter Betts]

Lucky no injuries!

No Injuries >> Just bad cases of Soiled Underwear

[Peter Betts]

According to my Sabi Sand Guide Mates who sent me a Whats App of the above video on Mon and I agree after watching the Driver of the front vehicle had no clue especially that Eco Training were based in that area and had experience of this Breeding herd and a Virile Bull in Musth who protected the upset female in the road ahead and yet the Vehicle continued to approach so the Bull intervened properly .. Me thinks another career for the driver is on the cards