A German tourist was trampled to death in a national park in Zimbabwe after trying to get closer to an elephant to take a picture.
The incident happened at the Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe on September 26, a wildlife conservation area that's highly popular for game-viewing. The 49-year-old woman was in a group of tourists crossing the park in a vehicle, when they came upon a herd of elephants. While it's not clear what actions she took once near the elephant or if she provoked it in some way, authorities do know that she exited the vehicle to get closer to the animal to take pictures, at which point she was attacked. She eventually died from her injuries later that day.
Tinashe Farawo, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, said that park visitors are warned when entering to keep a proper distance from all animals when in the park. Elephant attacks kill about 600 people every year and are relatively common in Zimbabwe. It's an unfortunate reminder that we must show wild animals the utmost respect and caution when photographing them.
Lead image by Pixabay user cocoparisienne, used under Creative Commons.
People need to stop doing dumb things just to get a picture...that picture of that animal was not worth her life.
And she probably died for an iphone pic so that's really a waste. They don't come with a long lens so more people moving in to danger zones.
Hard to feel sorry....another cautionary tale. Be respectful of wildlife and leave the environment as you found it.
I think this is a case of Lack of GAS.
industrial precision vs nature
which will win?
DAYUM NATURE~! YOU SCARY!
Seriously, though. Respect nature because it sure as hell won't respect you.
We visited Zimbabwe a few years back, our guide said that Mana Pools was a dangerous wildlife park and they actually had coffins for sale.
I wonder if the coffins have a small picture of an animal that killed you on them. Or maybe that's an extra option? ;D
Sure that wasn't due to the HIV epidemic?