Field ranger severely injured in Kruger National Park elephant attack

[Lisbeth]

Cebelihle Bhengu - 20.12.2022


A game ranger was injured at Kruger park.
Getty Images

A South African National Parks (SANParks) field ranger was airlifted to hospital after sustaining severe injuries in an elephant attack.

SANParks spokesperson Isaac Phaahla said the incident happened during a morning patrol on Tuesday at the Pretoriuskop section in the southwestern part of the Kruger National Park.

Phaahla said the ranger's colleagues rescued him by firing a warning shot, causing the elephant to run off.

The ranger was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

Head ranger Catherine Dreyer said field rangers were constantly exposed to danger.

She added that she was relieved the ranger wasn't fatally wounded.

"These are the daily dangers we face in protecting our natural heritage and the park from all wildlife crime. The possibility of being attacked by a dangerous wild animal is always present. In some instances, unavoidable, especially with the bush being so thick during this time of the year. It makes it difficult to see animals from a distance and have sufficient time to react," she said.

Dreyer thanked the field rangers who helped stabilise the injured ranger, saying they did so under difficult conditions.



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[Richprins]

Hope he's ok!

[Richprins]

Ranger injured by elephant recovering well

The field ranger who was severely injured by an elephant last month while on patrol in the Pretoriuskop Section of the Kruger National Park is making good recovery.

The field ranger, Joseph Nkuna, was on patrol with his colleagues when a breeding herd of elephant crossed the road in front of them. One of the elephants turned back and charged towards him and attacked him, resulting in serious injuries. 

His colleagues managed to rescue him by firing a warning shot at the elephant. The elephant ran off and they immediately called for help.

Nkuna was stabilised in the Kruger National Park before he was transferred to the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. 

“Joseph is an experienced field ranger with over 32 years in the field. We are grateful that his condition has improved. As management and colleagues, we have been praying for him and his family, whom we are supporting during this difficult time. We are in contact with the hospital daily and were excited when we were informed that his condition has improved,” says head ranger Catherine Dreyer.

“It is going to be a very long road to recovery, but he is a brave man, and we believe the worst is behind us. We thank the medical personnel and everybody that is taking care of him and cannot wait to welcome him back to his home,” she said.  

Meanwhile his colleagues and family have been given access to trauma counsellors to help them come to terms with the accident.

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