A Spanish tourist was trampled to death by an elephant while on a safari in South Africa.
According to reports by AFP and other foreign media outlets quoting local authorities on the 9th, a 43-year-old Spanish male tourist was killed on the 7th in Pilanesberg National Park, about 124 miles northwest of Johannesburg.
The victim, who was on a safari in a private vehicle with his fiancée and two other women in the park’s wildlife conservation area, is believed to have been attacked after he got out of the vehicle to take a photo of a group of elephants.
The others with the victim at the time of the incident are reported to be safe.
A park official explained, “The leader of the elephants attacked when it saw the victim approaching. It’s normal behavior for adult elephants to protect their young.”
The official sternly warned, “Many tourists do not realize how dangerous elephants can be. Getting out of a vehicle to take a selfie with wildlife or to take close-up photos can be perceived as a threat or an invasion of territory, which can lead to horrific consequences.”
It is not uncommon for elephants to attack humans in Africa.
This year in Zambia, two tourists died in separate elephant attacks. In March, a video of a tourist in Pilanesberg National Park being attacked by an elephant while on a safari truck went viral on social media.
In 2021, a man suspected of being a poacher was killed by an elephant in Kruger National Park in South Africa. Last year, 50 people were killed and 85 were injured by wildlife in neighboring Zimbabwe, with the majority of the wildlife being elephants.
Pilanesberg National Park has advised visitors to the wildlife conservation area to keep their windows closed and remain inside their vehicles.
