Video: American woman killed by charging elephant in Zambia
Warning: This article contains graphic visuals and content and is not for sensitive readers. What was meant to be an enjoyable game drive led to a tragic death.
The death of an 80-year-old American woman who was on a safari in Zambia has rocked social media.
A video of the incident has been widely circulated on several social media platforms, with many people left in shock.
The incident happened in the Kafue National Park – the largest and oldest national park in the country.
Video
In the video, a guide can be heard frantically shouting at the elephant in an attempt to stop it from coming closer to the vehicle. The bull, however, flips the vehicle over.
Warning: Not for sensitive viewers
One international client killed by elephant in Kafue National Park from lufupa Lodge during Safari. Two injured and being evacuated to Lusaka. Full details being awaited from the operator through the Senior Warden Kafue Region. Very unfortunate indeed. pic.twitter.com/4ntbyhec1G
— Gina (@ginnydmm) April 2, 2024
Incident
Wilderness Destinations, the operator of the tour, confirmed the incident in a media statement yesterday.
“… an 80-year-old female American guest was tragically killed by a bull elephant while on a game drive at its Kafue National Park destination in Zambia on Saturday (March 30). Another female guest was also injured in this incident, when an aggressive bull elephant charged the vehicle carrying six guests and a guide who were on a game drive from Lufupa Camp. The injured guest was taken to a private medical facility in South Africa while the other four guests received treatment for minor injuries. Trauma counselling has been provided to all involved,” said group head of communications Tarryn Gibson.
Gibson explained that six guests were on a game drive at around 09:20 when the elephant charged.
“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” said Wilderness CEO Keith Vincent.
He added that management was informed and dispatched a helicopter to the scene.
“Given the nature of the incident, the police, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and other authorities are involved in investigating the matter. Wilderness is co-operating fully with this process.”
He sent his condolences to the deceased’s loved ones. “We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident.”
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za