Ranger fatally wounded by colleague as buffalo charges them
Lowvelder informed Kruger's managing executive that the ranger didn't survive. However, he didn't correct the publication that the victim hadn't been trampled by the buffalo.
MBOMBELA – A field ranger was shot and fatally wounded by a fellow ranger in the Kruger National Park yesterday. SANParks said in a statement that it was an accident.
A lone buffalo charged the two rangers while they were on an anti-poaching patrol in the Malalane section.
According to the dead man’s colleague, in the ensuing confusion they managed to find cover from where they attempted to neutralise the animal. The one ranger appears to have been caught in the crossfire and sustained a bullet wound to his upper body.
A doctor was immediately flown to the scene by SANParks helicopter. A fully equipped medical emergency helicopter of Mpumalanga Emergency Medical Services based at Mbombela was also requested and immediately dispatched to the scene. The critically wounded ranger was stabilised on the scene and flown to Mediclinic Nelspruit.
He was then rushed into theatre but died of his wound.
Lowvelder was initially informed that the ranger had been trampled by the animal. The newspaper phoned KNP spokesman Mr William Mabasa, who wasn’t available.
The newspaper then enquired with KNP managing executive, Mr Glenn Phillips and it was actually Lowvelder that informed him that the ranger hadn’t survived.
Phillips didn’t correct Lowvelder that the victim hadn’t been attacked by the buffalo and did not answer specific questions about the incident which the newspaper had sent him.
Reacting to the news, SANParks CEO, Mr Fundisile Mketeni, offered his sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. “It is a sad day for us as a family, we have lost one of our own, a dedicated colleague and friend who not only served the organisation, but the entire globe to ensure the integrity of our natural heritage. We did all we could to save his life but unfortunately we lost him. We hope this tragic incident will inspire our colleagues to carry on with the sterling work he was doing in the field, so that his death is not in vain.”
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