SKUKUZA – SANParks announced today that one of the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) regional rangers, Mr Don English was attacked and injured by a buffalo in the park yesterday at around 10:30.  He had been conducting a routine buffalo sustainable off-take exercise.

During the exercise a bull charged English at very close quarters. It managed to hit him in the chest before throwing him repeatedly in the air. English managed to grab onto the horns during the attack and hung on for dear life until the buffalo eventually succumbed.

English was immediately attended to by a local doctor and airlifted by helicopter to Nelspruit Mediclinic where he is receiving further medical attention. Ms. Robyn Baard, spokesperson of the Mediclinic, confirmed that he is in a stable condition.

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KNP managing executive, Mr Glenn Phillips, has extended his well wishes to English on behalf of all staff at SANParks. “This is a huge blow for us as we are just four days away from celebrating World Ranger Day on Sunday July 31. English, as the regional ranger has been one of the leaders on the ground getting the ranger corps ready for this important event and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery.

* On January 14 a SANParks ranger was accidentally shot during an encounter with a buffalo.