‘HUNTER HUNTED’: SUSPECTED POACHER KILLED BY ELEPHANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Fri 22 October 2021:

A suspected poacher was crushed to death by an elephant in South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park, according to a spokesman.

According to Kruger spokesman Isaac Phaahla, the mangled body was discovered Thursday during an intelligence operation aimed to prevent poaching.

However, before any animals were hurt, Phaahla reported, an elephant stomped one poacher to death while the others fled.

“Initial investigations suspect that the deceased was killed by an elephant and left behind by his accomplices,” he added.

The elephant conveniently spared the man’s cell phone, which rangers have turned over to police to aid their efforts to track down his fellow poachers, he said.

Phaahla said even though rangers had not found a gun or another weapon near the body, the reason they believed the man was a poacher was because he was in one of the park’s restricted areas.

They also believed the person or people who had called to alert them of the man’s death, was his accomplices as they wanted his body to be found.

Poaching, particularly of rhinos, has been a major problem in Kruger. In February, the park revealed that its rhino population had decreased by 70% in the previous decade, to slightly under 4,000.

Over the last two years, the park has been successful in combating wildlife crimes, thanks to new technology and enhanced patrols that have helped catch suspects before they kill, according to Phaahla.

(with agency) FILE PHOTO

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