Mother elephant attacks French tourist
A French tourist sustained serious injuries when he was attacked by an elephant, which was protecting its calf at Murchison Falls National Park.
By Gerald Tenywa
A French tourist sustained serious injuries when he was attacked by an elephant, which was protecting its calf at Murchison Falls National Park.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a group of tourists visited the park on March 22 and went for a game drive.
“We offered to guide and protect them but they declined,†said Sam Mwandha, the UWA director of field operations.
“They went too close to the elephant and turned off the engine of their vehicle instead of leaving it running.â€
Mwandha said such intrusion provokes elephants, which are always protective of their calves.
He added that the mother elephant brought the excitement of the tourists to an end when it attacked them and rolled their Pajero vehicle several times.
“The furious elephant smashed the windows of the car and one of the tourists rolled out through the window,†he said.
The tourist who rolled out of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, whereas the one who was trapped in the car (names withheld) suffered a dislocated and a broken collar bone.
Another vehicle, which stopped far away from the scene, was not attacked.
The driver went back to Paraa, where he was referred to Makabu, to call for medical assistance.
The victims were first taken to Masindi Hospital, before being admitted to Kampala International Hospital, Mwandha said.
“Whoever comes to the park should not forget that it is a wild place. It is important to take precautions and avoid being driven by excitement to go too close to elephants.â€
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most scenic parks globally.
A French tourist sustained serious injuries when he was attacked by an elephant, which was protecting its calf at Murchison Falls National Park.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a group of tourists visited the park on March 22 and went for a game drive.
“We offered to guide and protect them but they declined,†said Sam Mwandha, the UWA director of field operations.
“They went too close to the elephant and turned off the engine of their vehicle instead of leaving it running.â€
Mwandha said such intrusion provokes elephants, which are always protective of their calves.
He added that the mother elephant brought the excitement of the tourists to an end when it attacked them and rolled their Pajero vehicle several times.
“The furious elephant smashed the windows of the car and one of the tourists rolled out through the window,†he said.
The tourist who rolled out of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, whereas the one who was trapped in the car (names withheld) suffered a dislocated and a broken collar bone.
Another vehicle, which stopped far away from the scene, was not attacked.
The driver went back to Paraa, where he was referred to Makabu, to call for medical assistance.
The victims were first taken to Masindi Hospital, before being admitted to Kampala International Hospital, Mwandha said.
“Whoever comes to the park should not forget that it is a wild place. It is important to take precautions and avoid being driven by excitement to go too close to elephants.â€
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most scenic parks globally.