Angry jumbo kills teenager

2003-02-24 12:20

Riot Hlatshwayo

Bushbuckridge - An enraged elephant ripped off a young boy's leg and trampled him to death near Manyeleti game reserve in Limpopo.

Lancelot Mdluli, 13, and other villagers tried to chase the elephant away from a stockpile of marula fruit in Tlhavekisa village about 10:00 on Sunday.

High-school teacher Magic Sambo said: "They beat tins and shouted while some threw stones at the elephant causing it to flee."

The elephant fled deeper into the village and panicked as young boys continued chasing it, even grabbing its tail.

"What happened next was really unbelievable," said Sambo.

"The elephant knocked the boy down and held him on the ground with a foot, while using its trunk to rip his left leg off from the hip."

The elephant threw the leg away and picked up the boy and repeatedly threw him to the ground.

The elephant fled into the surrounding bush.

Mopani police spokesperson Captain Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed the incident and criticised adults for encouraging children to put their lives at risk by chasing a wild elephant.

The elephant is believed to have escaped either from Manyeleti or Andover game reserves.

William Mabasa of Kruger National Park said elephants were usually calm, but did not tolerate being provoked. "They can be very aggressive if provoked, and can do something very dangerous," said Mabasa. -African Eye News Service

- News24