Tour operators say the 80-year-old during a wildlife safari in Zambia American The woman died when an ‘aggressive’ male The elephant attacked the vehicle ‘unexpectedly’.
The incident took place on March 30 at 9:30 am local time in Kafwe National Park in Zambia. A shocking video of the attack was made and posted on social media.
In the video, the young male elephant can be seen chasing the vehicle, which stops as the elephant approaches. The elephant then hit the car and the guide shouted: ‘Hey, hey, hey!’
According to ABC News, the woman has been identified as Gail Matteson.
Safari operators say the elephant attacked the vehicle ‘unexpectedly’, which was carrying six guests and a guide.
The company told ABC News: ‘The aggressive male elephant attacked a vehicle carrying six guests and a guide on a safari park excursion from Lofopa Camp.’
Safari Park Chief Executive Officer Keith Vincent said: ‘Our guides are highly trained and experienced but unfortunately in this case the terrain and vegetation were such that the guide’s path was blocked and the vehicle was damaged. Couldn’t get out of the way fast enough to cause it.’
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The group of safari park visitors were staying at Lofopa Camp in Africa’s largest game reserve and had gone out for photography when the attack happened, British newspaper The Telegraph reported.
The park administration dispatched a helicopter to the scene. The woman was airlifted to a hospital in South Africa with unknown injuries where she was pronounced dead.
Four others suffered minor injuries and were treated at the hospital.
Local police and Zambia’s National Parks Department have launched an investigation into the incident.
Local authorities and the US Embassy in Lusaka are handing over the woman’s body to her family. African elephants are among the largest land mammals on Earth.
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2024-09-23 07:57:13
