A Spanish tourist was killed under the feet of an elephant after approaching a small herd to take a picture in a park near Johannesburg, South Africa. South African authorities reported today, Tuesday, that the 43-year-old man was attacked on Sunday morning in Pilanesberg National Park, which is frequently visited by tourists and is only 200 kilometers away from South Africa's economic capital.
The police indicated that the victim, his fiancée, and two other women were inside their vehicle in the reserve when they spotted three elephants and three of their calves. Police spokesperson Sabata Mohkatu said, "Initial information suggests that the man stopped the vehicle and got out before approaching the elephants to take photos, leading to the attack that cost him his life."
Peter Neill, the director of environmental conservation at the provincial parks and tourism authority in the northwest of the country, explained that the mother elephant became "agitated" when she saw the man approaching, considering it a natural defense of her young. Neill expressed regret that "many tourists do not realize the dangers of such actions and how perilous these animals can be."
The police, who have opened an investigation into the incident, noted that the other passengers in the vehicle, all of whom are from Johannesburg, were unharmed.
