https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/01/...-wildlife-encounters



After elephant kills tourist, SANParks urges tourists stay in vehicles during wildlife encounters

This warning follows Saturday’s incident where a tourist was charged and killed by an elephant at the Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate.
Kruger National Park

SANParks

After elephant kills tourist, SANParks urges tourists stay in vehicles during wildlife encounters


CAPE TOWN - South African National Parks (SANParks) is urging tourists to stay inside their vehicles when encountering wild animals.


This warning follows Saturday’s incident where a tourist was charged and killed by an elephant at the Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate.


SANParks is calling on witnesses of the recent elephant incident to stop sharing pictures and videos on social media due to their sensitive nature.


According to reports, the tragic event occurred when a tourist climbed out of their vehicle and was charged by an elephant.


This follows a similar incident last July when a Spanish tourist was killed at Pilanesberg National Park after exiting their car to photograph an elephant herd.


SANParks management has expressed deep regret over this loss of life and has emphasised the importance of staying safe in wildlife areas.

Sometime stupid is fatal.

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SANParks is calling on witnesses of the recent elephant incident to stop sharing pictures and videos on social media due to their sensitive nature.

While it may be counter-productive for business, it should (IMO) be circulated for "educational" purposes to convince some members of society that not all creatures are warm and cuddly as they believe.

Furthermore, the Park Authorities should impose fines to anyone who drives off the beaten track and/or gets out of the vehicle.

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Originally posted by fulvio:

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SANParks is calling on witnesses of the recent elephant incident to stop sharing pictures and videos on social media due to their sensitive nature.

While it may be counter-productive for business, it should (IMO) be circulated for "educational" purposes to convince some members of society that not all creatures are warm and cuddly as they believe.

Agree 100%.

Witnesses publishing this kind of thing on social media is what they call in US broadcasting a "PSA" - a Public Service Announcement.

I would make an announcement “Due to a tourist stupidity, he got killed by an elephant. Let this be an example for other future tourists, who might entertain being just as stupid as this idiot!”

Seems like a tragic accident rather than the usual suspects...

An elderly man tragically lost his life after being attacked by an elephant near the Malelane Gate in Kruger National Park on Saturday. The incident occurred when the man’s grandchildren stepped out of their vehicle near a bridge, unaware of an elephant concealed behind nearby bushes. Moments later, the elephant emerged and began charging toward them.

In a heroic act to protect his grandchildren, the man placed himself between them and the advancing elephant, risking his life. Unfortunately, he sustained fatal injuries during the attack.

There are signs all over KNP warning tourists to stay in their cars except at designated rest areas and camps. You can’t fix stupid..

I just shake my head. Similar deaths have occurred many time before, over many years and I bet anything they will continue happening. All for much the same reasons. People have heard the stories yet somehow the risks don't seem to register. Some people just seem to have that certain level of stupid but acknowledge in this case it sounds like the guy tried doing the noble thing. Unfortunate he took the hit.

Fulvio, Andrew and Saeed,

I agree totally. Elephants are hardly cuddly. Cows in particular. I've had to run from them in a car. I don't run so fast any more and thankfully haven't had a negative encounter far from the car. Bulls, in my experience are just showing off, most of the time, but the cows are dead serious.

Darwin's theories proven correct again!

We've been living in South Africa for the past 17 months and been to Kruger and Pilanesberg numerous times. We can assure you that stupid is alive and well. Recently we were at the Nkuhlu rest stop, restaurant and gift shop. While there, they had cordoned off part of the restaurant because a 9-10 black mamba was resting in the thatch above digesting a mouse that it had caught earlier. SANParks had been called early that morning to remove the snake and no one had shown up to take the snake away. Finally a big South African with a pony tail showed up with his wife and small child. He said that he was a snake handler would catch the snake, remove it, and relocate it, which he did most professionally. We watched him handle that snake, with the utmost concern that it might slip out of his grip and be loose in the restaurant. We were relieved when it was in the container and on its way to somewhere else in the bush. SANParks could have cared less for the safety of the tourists that were there at that time.

Vaugn, weren't you furious?

That is precisely why I HATE to rely on third parties for my safety and that of my family.

Had I my way, I'd have drawn one of my .44s or .45s loaded with birdshot and blasted that f-ing mamba into oblivion.

But that's just me, right?

BTW, I hope you're enjoying your time in South Africa.

Mike: We've enjoyed our Church legal mission assignment for the last 17 months tremendously. We cover 19 countries, territories and islands in the Africa South Area. One more month to go and then we are back in Las Vegas. We have exercised caution in all that we do, followed guidelines and rules, and have not experienced any problems. I have driven all over (we have a nice SUV) and I am always on the lookout for potential issues. Being proactive and aware has kept us out of potential issues. My hat was off to that Afrikaner that stepped up with risk to himself and bravely used his skills to rid the restaurant and gift shop of that deadly problem. Best regards, Vaughn

Glad to hear it. The only time I have spent in South Africa was in transit to somewhere else. That may change soon.

It is really surprising how ignorant people can be with WILD animals, be it a squirrel, rat, Bush buck, mongoose, lion or elephant.

India has a serious problem with wild animal conflicts with people.

https://www.deccanherald.com/e...actions%20in%20India.

It is a complex issue and 500 people are killed each year. 100 elephants are also lost. Some are electrocuted and one was light on fire after a can of petrol was poured on it!

There are some Youtube clips of real stupid people trying to get selfies and getting killed by wild elephants.

Temple elephants are sometimes a problem when in musth.

About 10 years ago in the Southern city of Coimbatore a staff member at my Brother-in-law's factory was killed by a wild elephant on the outskirts of the city. That was a really sad day as Karunakaran was a really gentle and loyal employee and human being. We used to meet him during our visits.