Boozy visitors ‘shoot up’ Addo Elephant Park

TWO Jeffreys Bay men apparently spent a booze-fuelled weekend shooting up a cottage with paintball guns at the Addo Elephant National Park.

The revelry resulted in SANParks flying a helicopter over the reserve, fearing poachers were targeting animals.

The two men checked themselves in at Kabouga Cottages near Kirkwood on Friday.

SANParks spokeswoman Fayroush Ludick said rangers heard the shots on Saturday morning, resulting in Kirkwood police being called.

“Our conservation management flew in a helicopter as they proceeded to search for the suspects. They were spotted using two paintball guns to shoot at rocks and trees,” Ludick said.

Police and rangers drove to where the men were firing off their paintball guns, which was some distance from their cottage.

The two men were brought back to their cottage, where a number of beer cans were found scattered around.

Ludick said the cottage’s walls, floors and doors had been shot with paintballs.

“The two men admitted they were responsible.”

While the paintball guns were not confiscated, the men were ordered to leave the park and return today for further questioning.

Police spokeswoman Captain Gerda Swart confirmed the incident.

“But the matter was resolved internally,” she said. —