http://allafrica.com/stories/201608100215.html



Zimbabwe: Jumbo Tramples Man to Death



A tourist Mr Stephen Coetzee (25) was trampled to death by a female elephant in the Hwange National Park on Monday. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo, confirmed the death. She said Mr Coetzee who was in the company of his brother Christian, was attacked about 24 kilometres from Main Camp towards Guvalala Platform in Hwange National Park."Stephen Coetzee was in the company of his brother Christian Coetze, and a female friend and had gone for a day visit in Hwange National Park when the unfortunate and sad incident happened," she said.

"The trio, all Zimbabweans who reside in Bulawayo, entered Hwange National Park through Sinamatella and had intended to exit through the Main Camp Gate. It is alleged that six kilometres after Guvalala Platform, the trio came across a herd of elephants and the now deceased is alleged to have disembarked from the vehicle to take pictures, unbeknown to him that there was yet some elephants, which were yet to cross the road."

Ms Washaya-Moyo added: "It is at that point that a female elephant appeared from the blind side attacking and killing Stephen on the spot. A report was quickly made to the police in Dete and the deceased's body has been taken to Hwange Colliery Mortuary."



The unfortunate incident happened at a time when Zimbabwe is fighting the proposed up-listing of its elephants from Appendix II to Appendix I.

If the proposal sails through at the forthcoming CoP17 to be held in South Africa next month, Zimbabwe and other countries will be banned from commercial hunting and trading of elephants and lions.

Zimbabwe is arguing that the proposal among other things could fuel human-wildlife conflict in communities adjacent to game parks.

The country has since rejected the proposal and is lobbying other countries to block the proposal.

Currently, it is estimated that Zimbabwe has a population of 84 000 elephants, which is beyond the country's carrying capacity.

People adjacent to game parks have also opposed the proposed ban, saying they were benefiting from wildlife conservation activities in their areas.

Sad situation. Condolences to his family. I wonder if he is a descendent of Clem Coutzee??

He was a good looking kid. The photo the news agency used was unfortunately somewhat prophetic if you read the writing on the tee shirt.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:
Sad situation. Condolences to his family. I wonder if he is a descendent of Clem Coutzee??

He was a good looking kid. The photo the news agency used was unfortunately somewhat prophetic if you read the writing on the tee shirt.
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Wondered if he was a relative as well.

Looks like he bungeed off the Bloukrans Bridge from the photo. An awful lot of irony in the decedents shirt.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Tragic, no doubt.

Ellie are unpredictable. A PH I once had the pleasure of hunting with, told me a story. He was driving down a well-known track in one of his hunting areas, when a angry bull elephant came charging out of the bush. Driving as fast as he could on the dirt track, the bull chased him for almost two kilometers. A couple of times, the bull almost caught up with him.

Anyone on foot would have been killed almost immediately. That road is used regularly by tribal school children who had to walk to school.

I think luck or fate, often saves more lives than people realize.

BH63

Unless Hwange National Park has a different set of rules, the standard ones are quite clear, in that you are not permitted to drive off the main track nor are you permitted to alight from the vehicle.

He bent the rules and got busted (literally).

Many of us were that way, back in our younger days.

When you're a kid, you think you're indestructible, invincible and immortal.

Looking back, I would still count myself lucky, even if I had only survived half of the stupid things I did as a kid.

Sad for this poor young fellow that his luck ran out.

Was he wearing that t-shirt when he got trampled?