A 43-year-old Spanish tourist met his untimely death on Sunday morning at the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa after being trampled by an elephant.
The incident occurred when the man, who was driving with his fiancée and two other women, stopped to take photos of a small herd of elephants.
According to police spokesman Sabata Mokgwabone, the man exited the vehicle and approached the elephants, prompting the matriarch to become “agitated” and attack. Chief conservation officer Pieter Nel explained that this behavior is normal for elephants defending their young.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by wild animals, which often go unrecognized by tourists. Nel emphasized that many visitors are oblivious to the risks and fail to exercise caution. The park has reiterated its warnings to visitors to remain in their vehicles with windows closed.
This tragic event is not an isolated incident, as elephant attacks have occurred in the region before. In 2021, a suspected poacher was killed by elephants in Kruger National Park, and last year, 50 people were killed and 85 injured by wild animals, mostly elephants, in neighboring Zimbabwe.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, and the park continues to emphasize the importance of safety precautions for visitors.
