A Spanish tourist has tragically been trampled to death by an elephant in Pilanesberg National Park, located in South Africa’s North West Province.
“Reports suggest that the man stopped the vehicle, alighted and went closer to the elephants to take pictures,” police spokesman Sabata Mokgwabone stated on Tuesday.
The North West Parks and Tourism Board issued a statement detailing that the Spanish tourist, along with three companions, entered the park in a vehicle and encountered a breeding herd of elephants.
“According to eyewitnesses, the man decided to alight from the vehicle and approach the elephants on foot, taking pictures,” explained acting Chief Conservation Officer Pieter Nel.
Despite warnings from his fellow passengers and occupants of two other nearby vehicles, the man did not heed their advice.
An adult elephant cow charged him, and he was unable to escape, leading to his being trampled by the herd.
Thami Matshego, CEO of the North West Parks and Tourism Board, told Netwerk24:
“Tourists are constantly reminded about the importance of staying inside their vehicles when visiting the park, and to keep a good distance between animals and their vehicles and give animals a chance to move freely, and to only get out of vehicles in safely designated areas.”
The South African Police Service has taken over the investigation.
Pilanesberg National Park is home to South Africa’s “Big Five”—lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino—which roam the park freely. Visitors are warned to remain in their vehicles while in the park.
Incidents involving wild animals are not rare in the region.
In 2021, an elephant killed a suspected poacher in Kruger National Park. In neighboring Zimbabwe, dozens of people are killed or injured by wild animals, primarily elephants, each year, according to local authorities.
