Elephant attack on vehicle

[Flutterby]

Dzombo, I disagree with you.

Warning signs given by elephants include flapping of the ears or a mock charge where the ears are fully spread with its head down.

In the video the elephant can be seen and heard doing both but at no point does the blue VW attempt to back away slowly. Instead it can be seen driving on and getting even closer to the elephant.

The elephant gave these people plenty of warning signs and time to get away....it didn't charge out of nowhere intent on hurting them, and no other evidence has been presented to show that this ellie had posed any danger to any other tourists.

“Our rangers reported that the same elephant bull had been involved in previous fights with other dominant bulls since it has been in musth phase.”

This is totally normal behaviour for an elephant in musth. But following SANParks' logic all ellies in musth should be killed as they MAY present a danger to tourists at some stage.

[RobertT]

Not sure if they are legally allowed to take the camera and check footage without the owners permission.

Lay a charge against the drivers of the blue VW and Subpoena the evidence to court and no statements are required, force them under oath to testify

That would take days, if not weeks. They had no reason to lay a charge at that stage and no way of proving they were too close until latest footage emerged.

I think SANParks acted too quickly. If the ranger that shot the ellie or the rescue people arrived and were also challenged by the ellie, I would say fine it is a problem ellie. But I have seen reports from people driving past there just after and also past the ellie without any problems.

[Bushcraft]

Not sure if they are legally allowed to take the camera and check footage without the owners permission.

Lay a charge against the drivers of the blue VW and Subpoena the evidence to court and no statements are required, force them under oath to testify

That would take days, if not weeks. They had no reason to lay a charge at that stage and no way of proving they were too close until latest footage emerged.

Agreed, but there's nothing stopping them laying a charge now

[RobertT]

From what I understand, if the people who took the video don't come forward and give a written statement, SANparks cannot do anything, video is not enough evidence for a conviction. Which then makes me wonder all the other reportings that got fines, I have never heard of anyone giving a written statement previously. I could be wrong

[Dzombo]

This is totally normal behaviour for an elephant in musth. But following SANParks' logic all ellies in musth should be killed as they MAY present a danger to tourists at some stage.

In my limited experience, once an elephant starts doing this sort of thing, it becomes a habit.

In Pilanesburg, there is a bull with a reputation. It has turned over cars more than once.
And in fact, I was charged by him. Luckily I managed to get away, and nothing happened.
But I had my young son with me. I shudder to think what may have happened if he would have made contact with my car.

Now in a way, it is irresponsible for the Pilanesburg managemenet to allow this situatiuon to continue.
Not saying they must shoot the elephant, but....the situation needs to be "managed".

[Sprocky]

In Pilanesburg, there is a bull with a reputation. It has turned over cars more than once.
And in fact, I was charged by him. Luckily I managed to get away, and nothing happened.
But I had my young son with me. I shudder to think what may have happened if he would have made contact with my car.

Now in a way, it is irresponsible for the Pilanesburg managemenet to allow this situatiuon to continue.
Not saying they must shoot the elephant, but....the situation needs to be "managed".

Dzombo, that situation is apparently being managed. There are rangers in the field with that Elephant (Amarula) all the time, making sure that he doesn't get close to vehicles. If people would also keep their distance, none of this would be needed.

[Richprins]

Elephant agitators appear on video


After a video emerged showing the circumstances surrounding an elephant attack in the KNP, the public's emotions are running high.

16 January 2014 | Lianda Naudé

NELSPRUIT - A public furore has erupted since video footage emerged this week of an elephant flipping the vehicle of two visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) on December 30.

Ms Sarah Brooks was seriously injured when one of the elephant's tusks ripped open her hip. Her fiancé, Mr Jans de Klerk, was lucky to exit the wreckage with no injuries.

SANParks shot and killed the animal, stating that it had posed a major risk to other tourists.
However, the majority of the public feels, after seeing the video, that the couple had ample time to flee the scene and actually provoked the elephant by following it.
Entry permits to the park contain tips on how to behave near wild elephants and it clearly states that one should not follow them.

Lowvelder asked Mr Isaac Phaahla, a SANParks spokesman, if any steps would now be taken against Brooks and de Klerk. Our Protection Services Unit is investigating the possibility of taking steps against the couple, bearing in mind that they suffered trauma and injuries due to their actions, he said.

Earlier media statements by SANParks indicated that this particular elephant had been involved in other aggressive incidents involving tourists. When asked about these events, Phaahla said, There are no specific incidents; the conclusion was drawn from the autopsy report which showed fresh injuries indicating a possible territorial fight.

In an interview with Radio Jacaranda on Tuesday, Phaahla mentioned the elephants existing injuries. When he was asked if the elephants injury could not have been sustained during the attack on the vehicle, he confirmed that it was an older injury as it already had a scab on it.

Dr Rudi van Aarde, an expert on elephants based at the University of Pretoria, stated that the animal gave numerous warning signs, including the flapping of his ears. December and January are the peak months for elephant mating and that is also when Kruger is at its busiest. The park should improve their marketing with the public as there are certain protocols which must be followed in nature. Now because of the incorrect behaviour of tourists, an elephant is dead.


Lowvelder

http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/co ... r-on-video

[Sprocky]

December and January are the peak months for elephant mating...

Since when do Elephant have a mating season???

[Richprins]

Ja, don't know that one either!

The hard copy has another opinion from an MTPA authority suggesting that "the elephant was not provoked enough to attack, as compared to a cow/calf situation". And "What if an elephant attacks a vehicle that doesn't bother it. These animals do not discontinue this behaviour easily"

The last comment is very true, as far as Pilanesberg is concerned, as Dzombo said...but don't know of similar incidences in Kruger?


To reply to Duke's earlier postulation that rhino poaching activity may be influencing ellie behaviour, I don't think so! Human activity has been taking place at all hours in the park for decades? Ellies are very intelligent, but not enough to care about other animals, in general. Conversely, during the culling days, they would indeed get stroppy and attack tourists, which was part of the reason for killing the entire herd, if possible.

I also personally experienced agitation from bulls during the process of chasing ellies into Moz when the fence was dropped in the far North years ago!


But agree that too many visitors leads to too many offenders...quite logical!

[Richprins]

BC's link is very good here, IMO!

http://www.wild-photographer.com/?page_id=245