Tourist versus elephant in Uganda
Apr 07, 08 | 4:19 pm



By Wolfgang H. Thome | Apr 07, 2008
KAMPALA, Uganda (eTN) - A French tourist visitor had a near fatal run in with an elephant at Murchisons Falls National Park last week. Ignoring guidance habitually given to visitors, to take a ranger with them for their game drive, the group approached some elephants to within very close range before switching their car engine off. Little did they know that a female elephant with a small cub was taking this intrusion into her space as a potential threat to her newly born and promptly went on the attack.



With the engine off the car could not back up and escape in time and was, according to park sources, rolled over by the mother elephant, before she retreated towards her baby.

Another car, which had properly stopped at a safe distance, immediately alerted the park headquarters from where a rescue team was dispatched to attend to the injured tourists. First aid was administered to the two injured visitors at Masindi General Hospital before they were evacuated to the Kampala International Hospital for further treatment. None of the injuries were reported to be life threatening.

Uganda Wildlife Authority then pointed out for the general public and foreign visitors to observe park rules, keeping a safe distance from the wild animals when game viewing and taking guides and / or rangers with them from park head quarters instead of setting out on their own. It was also said that the incident was extremely rare and completely avoidable, if the visitors had observed basic rules or exercised some common sense.

It is recommended for tourists to use the services of a licensed tour operator in good standing when visiting Ugandan national parks. Details of such firms can be obtained from the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) via auto@utlonline.co.ug or visit their website at www.auto.or.ug

I believe this was the Dumas family...

Always good to keep that engine rolling, especially if you sense things could turn sour! I know the engine often makes them angry, but switching off doesnt help if there is a charge. I think that it depends a lot on the area you are in too and the nature of the situation. I think that in many national parks, the elephants are usually very relaxed and used to vehicles and in many instances you could switch off without any hassles, even with the elephant basically touching the vehicle.

I have been in a vehicle and very close to a breeding herd with a baby that was still pink and hairy, and probably less than a day old! The parent was a little anxious, but there was no aggression shown by the rest of the herd (this was within a national park). I have been charged seriously twice outside national parks by elephants though (fortunately) in a vehicle, so I would advise never switching off unless you are sure of the situation and temperament of the animal(s)!

I have found that ellie bulls in musth too can be a little aggresive when approached with a vehicle and unless you know what signs to look for that could end up in a nasty situation, so it is probably best to have a guide with you just for insurance sake.

quote:

Little did they know that a female elephant with a small cub was taking this intrusion into her space

Who writes this crap since when does an ele have cubs ? I suppose cub sound cuddly for the greenies. Go out and hug an elephnat today dont worry we will clean the blood splatter from the road afterwards.

Also from the trees...

Murchison falls National park Uganda.22nd march 2008.
A group of 8 tourists in 2 vehicles were game driving between Paraa and
Wangkwar gate in the
afternoon.The two vehicles ended up facing each other the lead vehicle
having started to return
.A breeding herd of elephants was being approached by the second vehicle
the first having
already photographed the group on the outward journey.
A single elephant with no warning ie trumpeting or head shaking charged
the second vehicle (it
was followed by a young calf for a short distance so assume it was an
elephant cow)It tusked
the bonnet and then walked onto the bonnet windscreen and roof of
vehicle.( described by the
driver of the second car)She then put a tusk through the front lefthand
side and turned the
vehicle over onto its roof.How long this took was difficult to establish.
The four terrified occupants were now upside down with the elephant
continuing to attack the
vehicle.One of the occupants managed to leave the vehicle and bolt
towards the second car
.This caught the angry elephants attention and she followed.
The driver of the second car had been sounding the horn and flashing his
lights to attract the
elephant away from his friends all the time.The elephant now persued the
fleeing tourist.The
driver managed to hold his ground until the runner reached the
vehicle.the elephant arrived at
the same time and went down on to its knees and tusked the murram a metre
in front of the
car.Whether she slipped or misjudged her lunge is unknown.It however gave
the runner a
chance to enter the vehicle through the window and for the car to reverse
away while the
elephant regained her feet.The elephant now some distance from both
vehicles lost intrest and
returned to her group.
The group suffered a dislocated shoulder or a broken collar bone to one
passenger and a
mindful of nightmares.
The driver of the second vehicle without a doubt saved the runners life.
The driver of the damaged vehicle was unable to speak and wanted to
forget the episode.

I have some pictures of the car...anybody who would care to assist can message me and we can post them....for those of you that might be interested in seeing the results...

very lucky little lady that one...

It sure ain't Disney World out there...