Elephant tramples elderly woman

2007-04-17 11:23

Nkosana ka Makaula

Phalaborwa - When an elephant charged an elderly couple on Saturday morning, the couple split up and ran in separate directions.

The elephant chose to follow the woman, whose broken body was eventually found on Sunday afternoon.

The attack took place at Grietjie near Phalaborwa, said Mopani area spokesperson Superintendent Moatshe Ngoepe.

He said Samuel Mbokoda, 73, and his wife, Aina, 68, were walking along a footpath outside the village at about 06:00 when an elephant came out of the bushes and charged at them.

"The man ran in one direction and the woman ran in the other. The elephant stuck with the woman," he said.

He said Mbokoda returned to look for his wife but couldn't find her.

He returned to their village for help, and a search was organised, but she wasn't found.

On Sunday morning, a bigger search was organised and her body was found in the afternoon.

"She had been trampled to death and almost all her bones had been broken. It was only then that the police were called," said Ngoepe.

The community is situated near the Kruger National Park and Ngoepe urged people who live so close to game reserves to be vigilant when walking in the bush.

"Fences can be damaged, leaving a hole through which animals can escape. Those animals are wild and will attack, so we ask people to be vigilant and report any breaches in the fences when they see them. That action alone can save a lot of lives." he said.

He said the elephant had not been seen again.

- African Eye