A Spanish tourist has been trampled to death by elephants in a South African national park after apparently trying to take pictures of a breeding herd that included three calves.

The 43-year-old man was killed on Sunday morning at Pilanesberg national park about 130 miles (210km) north-west of Johannesburg.

According to park officials, the man, who was with three friends, climbed out of his vehicle and walked towards the animals to take photos.

“Despite warnings from his fellow passengers, and occupants from two other vehicles that were at the sighting, he unfortunately did not heed their warnings,” the North West province’s parks and tourism board said in a statement.

  • Mereo@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    19
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    What in the actual f*&%:

    According to park officials, the man, who was with three friends, climbed out of his vehicle and walked towards the animals to take photos.

    So tourists think that they are domesticated animals?! They’re not dogs. Respect nature.

    • Jumpingspiderman@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      4 months ago

      We were recently in Wyoming/Montana etc. where the moose and the buffalo roam. We saw people try for their Darwin awards by approaching these wild animals more than once. I feel sorry for their families. But if there ever was a FAFO situation, this is it.

    • stoly@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      If you watch fail videos, people constantly pick up wild animals and try to pet or kiss them. It’s very strange.

        • stoly@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          4 months ago

          My sister in law is from China—my brother moved there, got married, and they moved to the US. Apparently they had a very long conversation about wild geese in the park that went “wait, you’re telling me that all this free meat is here and not one person is taking any home?” for some time before she believed that people just like to watch the geese.