Dangerous Animal Incidents

[Richprins]

Spanish tourist killed by elephant in Pilanesberg


The seriously injured man was rushed to hospital but later succumbed from his injuries.
elephant



A tourist was killed on Sunday afternoon in Pilanesberg National Park after an elephant attacked him. The individual, said to be a Spanish man, stepped out of his car to take a picture, sources said.

A park visitor said that their family was on a game drive and saw an ambulance rush past yesterday afternoon, presumably to collect the injured tourist. The seriously injured man was rushed to hospital but later succumbed from his injuries.

While no official statement has been issued yet, several sources at the Pilanesberg National Park confirmed the incident.

“Visitors to the park must realise that these are wild animals,” said the source at the park who wished to remain anonymous, as provincial authorities have yet to issue a statement.

“You cannot simply get out of your vehicle and approach an animal. Selfies or getting closer photo opportunities with an animal that may see you as a threat or invader of their territory can have dire consequences,” they added.

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/spanish- ... VuDV5cC_JA

[Lisbeth]

[RogerFraser]

SANParks - Kruger National Park
South African National Parks · 15m ·
Ref: 9/2/2 – 24 – KNP
Wednesday, August 14, 2024,
Field Ranger 1 / of 1 MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
FIELD RANGER WOUNDED BY BUFFALO
A field ranger based at Pretoriuskop Section in Kruger National Park (KNP) was charged and injured by a buffalo on Tuesday 13 August 2024.
The field Ranger and his colleague were on a patrol near the Sabie River when the animal charged at them from behind a thicket. The injured Ranger managed to hold onto the horns of the animal until his colleague fired shots and put down the animal.
The ranger on site placed an emergency call after which their colleague was immediately attended to by a local doctor and stabilised and thereafter airlifted by helicopter to a nearby medical facility where he is receiving further medical attention.
SANParks Board and Management extend their well wishes to the ranger on behalf of all staff in SANParks.
In line with established protocols, a debriefing report will be compiled by the Rangers Corps into the incident and its results will be furnished to the KNP Management Committee. SANParks will also provide the ranger’s family with access to trauma counsellors.

[Lisbeth]

[nan]

[RogerFraser]

Another tourist attacked in Pilanesberg apparently being an idiot

[nan]

nobody (almost) read what they sign

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

Incredible how stupid people can be

[Lisbeth]

Hyena kills young girl at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve


A hyena in Skukuza, Kruger National Park. (Photo: Ian Walton / Getty Images)

By Tamsin Metelerkamp | 29 Dec 2024

The young daughter of a staff member at one of the privately owned safari lodges at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve was killed by a spotted hyena on Friday, 27 December.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A hyena attack at a privately owned lodge in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve led to the death of a young girl on the evening of Friday, 27 December. The reserve lies on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, extending into both Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The victim was the daughter of one of the staff members employed at the lodge. Edwin Pierce, warden of the reserve, told Daily Maverick he was “deeply saddened” to confirm the deadly attack.

“The incident occurred at the lodge concerned and Timbavati Reserve management is providing support and assistance to the lodge and the police investigating team wherever possible,” he said.

“This heartbreaking incident underscores the inherent risks of living alongside wild animals, and while we are committed to preserving and respecting the harmony of nature, we are equally reminded of its unpredictability.”

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve has a high density of wildlife and a range of lodges and camps. Pierce did not name the lodge at which the attack took place.

He noted that the Timbavati reserve management was responsible for handling the overall reserve, but not the operation of privately owned lodges within it, meaning it could not provide “any firsthand information about, nor comment on the circumstances surrounding the incident”.

“On behalf of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family during this exceptionally difficult time. We kindly request that the media respect their privacy as they navigate their grief. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them,” he said.

Pierce did not respond to a question about what wildlife barriers and protections were in place at the lodge. He referred Daily Maverick to the South African Police Service (SAPS) investigating team for further information on the incident.

The SAPS had not responded to Daily Maverick’s query at the time of publishing.

Hyena attacks involving humans are an uncommon occurrence but there have been a handful of incidents in South Africa over the past 15 years. In November 2023, Frans Ndlovu lost his eye during an encounter with a hyena while guarding wildlife against poachers at a Musina game farm in Limpopo, according to SowetanLIVE.

A 15-year-old boy was left in serious condition in 2016 when he was attacked by a hyena while sleeping in a compartment of his family’s tent at the Kruger National Park, according to a report by The Guardian.

In another incident reported by the Mail & Guardian, a hyena attacked a 13-year-old boy who was camping at Sontuli Camp in Imfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2011. DM

This is a developing story.