A 71-year-old South African tourist was trampled to death by an elephant. The incident occurred in Mana Pools National Park along the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.
A spokesperson for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Tinashe Farawo, said in a Twitter post Wednesday that Michael Bernard Walsh, a veterinarian from Cape Town, was trampled in front of his 41-year-old son. Farawo added that the man has been visiting the park since 1986.
It is with great sadness that a 71 yr old S/African vet doctor was trampled to death by an elephant in Mana Pools in full view of his 41 year old son. He has been visiting the park since 1986. MHSRIP @Zimparks @maguranyanga @eNCA @METHI_Zimbabwe— Tinashe Farawo (@FarawoTinashe) October 13, 2021
The Associated Press reported that the duo was charged by a tuskless female elephant as they took a morning walk in the park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its abundance of wildlife, including elephants.
The father and son had left their car 40 meters (44 yards) away from the scene of the incident, but Farawo said that because of his age Walsh was unable to get back to the safety of the vehicle.
“We are extremely concerned because two people have been killed in one week alone,” Farawo added, referencing the death of the member of an anti-poaching unit Clever Kapandura on Friday, October 8.
Kapandura, a member of the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit, was killed when he was attacked by a charging bull elephant while responding to a report of poaching in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The team members who were with Kapandura at the time said they did not know why the elephant attacked the group, charging at them from a distance of 120 meters.
The Associated Press reported that authorities in Zimbabwe’s national parks are witnessing an increase in confrontations between animals and humans. Farawo added that more than 40 people have died this year as a result of such animal encounters.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson added that he believes this is because hot dry weather in Mana Pools and other parks is driving animals into neighboring human communities as they search for water.
In 2014, it was estimated that Zimbabwe has a population of around 83,000 elephants. This is the second-largest elephant population in the world after Botswana, which plays host to 130,000 elephants in 2021.
The elephant population of Zimbabwe has increased twenty-fold since 1900 when numbers are believed to have been as low as 4,000. While the recovery of the species is positive, both countries say that they are struggling to cope with elephant numbers.
“We are now sounding like a broken record, saying that our animals, especially elephants, are overpopulated and they are becoming a danger unto themselves by destroying their own habitat and they are also killing people,” said Farawo. “We receive distress calls from communities almost every day.”
These poor animals are SICK and TIRED of PEOPLE! And THEY DON’T FORGET their family members being killed by poachers, or morons who want to bring a souvenir home from their safari/ vacation, whatever… Maybe this bull got beaten or harshly punished, prior the visitors…THEY DON’T KNOW!
It was very sad for a son to witness this horror! May God bless his soul, and to whom it may concern……LEAVE THESE ANIMALS (Elephants, Lions, Tigers etc….) ALONE, you jackasses poacher! Too bad these animals can’t shoot a gun!
I agree. It’s about time to let every animal in peace. Elephants and others have feelings, it is very sad that some people died because they were mad but enough is enough!!
Mana Pools National Park is where this happened, I don’t think they allow people to hunt them there. They are animals and maybe did this for no reason at all, it doesn’t mean anyone abused them.
Thanks for an intelligent response verses all the ignorant ones.