Dangerous Animal Incidents

[Peter Betts]

I hope that the tracker was safe too

The guy in front was thrown off the front by the ellie in the 3rd Video which I have>> landed on his feet like a champ and ran to the other vehicle >> he was a student not a guide yet

[Lisbeth]

He was lucky

[Lisbeth]

KZN JUMBO ATTACK

Family survives after bull elephant batters and flips car at Lake St Lucia

By Tony Carnie | 16 Jan 2022

A family’s outing to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal turned into a nightmare when a bull elephant charged, battered and then overturned their vehicle at the weekend.
................................................................................................................................................................
A Mtunzini family escaped death or serious injury after their vehicle was pounded and flipped by a bull elephant on a tourist road leading to the beach at Cape Vidal on Sunday morning.

Officials from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority did not respond to media queries on Sunday night, but reliable sources have confirmed that the incident happened near Catalina Bay on the eastern shore of Lake St Lucia.

The occupants – believed to be a husband, wife and their two children, aged eight and 10, from the coastal town of Mtunzini – were reported to be severely traumatised, but not seriously hurt.

It is unclear why the elephant attacked the car, but it is understood that an investigation will be launched by park officials.

Dramatic video footage taken by the occupants of another vehicle show the elephant shoving a white Ford 4×4 bakkie after it had flipped the vehicle over onto its roof. Images circulated on social media show that the windscreen was cracked, with dents to both sides of the vehicle.

(Click on the title to watch the video)

Daily Maverick was not able to contact the couple on Sunday night, but images show that at least four bicycles had been loaded on the back of the vehicle.

There are more than 100 elephants in various herds in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park that have been reintroduced into the World Heritage Site over the past two decades.

The majority of the elephants were sourced from the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, orphans whose parents were culled in the Kruger National Park – along with some more recent introductions directly from Kruger.

There have since been a number of incidents of conflict, including at least one fatal incident, in 2005 when Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife general assistant Zelani Ntuli (50) was gored in the chest when an elephant charged a vehicle near Charters Creek.



Ntuli and fellow staff were returning to a field camp in a three-ton truck from Hell’s Gate when they came across a breeding herd of 26 elephants drinking at a reservoir at about 7pm.

They stopped their vehicle and switched off the lights. After waiting for a while, the team tried to drive forward, but were stopped by the herd. It is believed the elephants may have become disorientated by the switching on and off of the lights.

One elephant then rammed the truck, pushing it backwards off the road against a tree. The windscreen was shattered and the cab roof lifted off its mounting and Ntuli, a mother of two, was fatally gored.

In a separate video clip circulated in 2016, a party of tourists recorded a close escape after encountering an elephant at close quarters on a tourist road – highlighting the dangers of visitors approaching elephants too closely, particularly when testosterone-charged bulls are in musth (a condition of heightened aggression and unpredictable behaviour in elephant bulls). DM

[Richprins]

High drama at Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park in KZN as bull elephant throws car into ditch


16 June 2022 - 14:44
Sipokazi Fokazi
Two occupants of this car at Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park were shaken after the vehicle was attacked by an elephant bull.




Image: Supplied

A trip to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal ended in high drama for two visitors after a bull elephant lifted their car and dumped it in a ditch on the side of the road.

It was just after midday on Wednesday when the occupants of a white Ford Figo had a close encounter with the elephant on the road from Memorial Gate to Hilltop Resort. When the driver of the car noticed the seemingly relaxed elephant approach, he moved to the side of the road to let it pass, as per the park rule to give animals the right of way.


Instead of going past, the elephant lay its trunk on the bonnet. When the driver tried to extricate the vehicle the elephant put its tusk through the passenger window, smashing the glass.

“It lifted the car like rugby players performing a lifting in a line-out. It, unfortunately, decided not to complete this common rugby action, choosing instead to throw the car into a ditch on the side of the road,” said Ezemvelo field ranger Velenkosini Ntombela, who witnessed the incident.

“As if that was not scary enough, the elephant continued to push and attack the car’s rear before deciding it was not worth it to waste its energy on an object that did not retaliate, so it backed off.”


According to Ntombela, within a twinkle of an eye the demolition was complete and the elephant backed off “as if it was standing in it's corner to let the boxing match referee count up to 10 before declaring the fight over”. It only moved from the car when Ntombela safely discharged a warning shot as it again approached the car with its shaken occupants inside.

The sound of the discharged firearm stopped the elephant's approach and it disappeared into the bush. The occupants of the battered car were transferred to the ranger’s car and moved to safety. No visible physical injuries were observed on both occupants. The damaged car was towed away.

Ezemvelo acting CEO Ntsikelelo Dlulane expressed his relief that no lives were lost, adding that things could have turned ugly.

“I am thankful that there was no loss of human life and both occupants survived the ordeal without any visible injuries. My appreciation also goes to Mr Ntombela who remained calm under trying circumstances. We will never know what would have happened had he panicked and decided to shoot the elephant,” he said.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... nto-ditch/

[Lisbeth]

..We will never know what would have happened had he panicked and decided to shoot the elephant,”

What a stupid phrase

[Richprins]

UPDATE ON SKUKUZA STAFF MEMBER ATTACK: On the 26th of June one of our beloved staff members was the unfortunate victim of a leopard attack while he was outside his abode at the South African National Parks Staff Living Quarters. Although the injuries sustained were serious, we are relieved to update our concerned members that he is set to make a full recovery.
We thank everyone who continues to call and offer support, donations and prayers. The entire Indalo Wiltshire Golf Club team has ensured he receives the best medical care possible and measures have been put in place to ensure his family receives on going emotional and financial support while he recovers.
Given the sensitive medical nature of the incident we have chosen to respect our colleague’s privacy and not publish his name. We kindly ask that this be upheld while he begins the journey of returning to good health.
The South African National Parks has also deployed a team to track the animal to guarantee the continued safety of all staff, members and guests.
We thank you once again for your well wishes and we remain committed to providing all our golfers with a safe and memorable golfing experience at Skukuza Golf Club.
Yours Sincerely
The Indalo Wiltshire Golf Club of Skukuza Team

[Lisbeth]

Good luck!

[Richprins]

Ref: 9/2/2 – 22 – KNP
MEDIA RELEASE
LEOPARD UPDATE

South African National Parks (SANParks) has expressed its sympathy to an employee from the Shalati Concession who was attacked by a leopard en route to work on the morning of Sunday 17 July 2022.

After fighting off the leopard and shouting for help, the animal disappeared into the surrounding bush. The injured worker was rushed to the doctor for treatment. He suffered deep lacerations and trauma but the injuries are understood not to be life threatening.

An operation was immediately launched by the Rangers Corps and the Airwing to search the immediate vicinity for the animal. It was spotted 30 metres from where the incident took place and was duly destroyed. This is the second incident where a worker has been attacked by a leopard in the recent past in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Head Ranger Cathy Dreyer stated: “Since the first incident every effort had been made to try and capture the leopard but without success. Given the location of the incident- we suspect that the destroyed leopard is the same animal responsible for the first attack but we can never be sure. Residents and employees must be extra vigilant and avoid walking alone at all times”.

The leopard has been delivered to the State Vets to undertake a post mortem.

Jerry Mabena, the CEO of Motsamayi Tourism Group – who are the owners of Kruger Shalati and Kruger Station added: “We were shocked by this tragic incident, we are very relieved that our colleague survived this ordeal. We, together with the Management team at the concession, are committed to his recovery and will support the process in both physical and emotional wellbeing by all means. This incident is a reminder to all that wild animals in their natural habitat act on nature’s rules - we remain respectful to our presence in their territory, while ensuring the safety of our staff as well as the conservation we are here to protect as concessionaires. We support the investigation by SANParks to determine the cause of this unusual behaviour by a leopard. We thank the medical support staff who acted fast, and SANParks for their support in the incident. We wish our colleague a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to work once fully recovered”

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) - Kruger National Park: Communications & Marketing Department.
Media enquiries:
Ike Phaahla: Tel: 013 735 4363; Cell: 083 673 6974; or Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

[harrys]

And again a animal must be destroyed because hedefended his teritory

[RogerFraser]

and then the staff are allowed to do this



This is a video of a leopard being disrespected. Warning graphic content
** Note that the statement below was removed from the SANParks site for unknown reasons **
SANParks Management is aware of a video of a leopard that was destroyed by rangers on Sunday 17 July 2022 which is circulating on Social Media. An employee from Shalati Concession was attacked by a leopard en route to work earlier that day.
This was the second such attack on a staff member employed in the Park in almost the same vicinity. The circumstances surrounding the destruction of the animal were explained in a statement released by SANParks on the same day.
Managements condemns the actions and behaviour depicted on the video in the strongest terms. A report on the incident is being prepared by Ranger Services and the outcomes of that report will inform management action in relation to the recorded incident. The recording is unfortunate and deeply regrettable.

https://web.facebook.com/groups/3006336 ... rdc=2&_rdr