Elephants attack game ranger
2007-03-14 07:25
Johannesburg - A game ranger was seriously injured when his vehicle was attacked by a herd of elephants, said a Kruger National Park official on Tuesday.
Park spokesperson Raymond Travers said Thomas Mathosi was returning from a staff function in the far northern part of the park with a group of colleagues on Tuesday morning.
The group came upon a breeding herd of elephant.
As they watched the herd, a smaller group of elephants stormed them from behind, overturning their vehicle.
"We cannot say why they attacked... bulls feel protective over their calves... that could have been a factor," said Travers.
A section ranger, Sandra Basson and her driver, Mathosi, were pinned underneath the vehicle while the rest of the rangers were thrown out of it.
The rangers fired three warning shots to disperse the elephants and then freed the two trapped under the vehicle and rushed them to hospital.
Mathosi sustained a serious injury to his thigh. His condition has stabilised, said Travers.
He is currently at Polokwane Private Hospital.
The rest of the rangers were treated for minor injuries and discharged.
- SAPA