Rangers find man trampled to death by elephant

JOHANNESBURG: Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers have recovered the body of a resident of Mabilingwe village who is believed to have been trampled to death by an elephant.

SANParks said yesterday that at around 1.30pm on Saturday, rangers were alerted to a missing person from Mabilingwe, south of the park’s Punda Maria Gate.

“The body was discovered after rangers on patrol saw a man walking along the park’s boundary and, upon being questioned, the man indicated he was looking for an old man who had disappeared from the village a day before.

“Rangers immediately went on a search and eventually found the body, with signs that it was trampled by an elephant.

“The case was referred to the SAPS for further investigation,” SANParks said.

“On behalf of South African National Parks (SANParks) management and staff, we wish to express our sincere condolences to the family for the loss of their loved one. Lives have been unnecessarily lost to wild animals in the Park due to people not taking the necessary precautions.

“We would like to urge families from the local communities to look after their loved ones, in particular the senior citizens or the mentally distressed, as it is possible for them to wander and disappear into the park, which is dangerous,” said acting head of communications William Mabasa. – ANA

Kruger Park urges villagers ‘to look after loved ones’