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Hiker killed by buffalo in South African national park15/07/2010 07:11:07
Three fellow walkers injured July 2010: A man has been killed and another three people injured by a buffalo bull on a hiking trail in Mountain Zebra National Park. The incident happened while the party of four was walking on the 1km Imbila Hiking Trail. Shortly after they started walking, the two couples encountered a buffalo bull. The buffalo charged at the hikers a number of times, injuring all four of them. One of the hikers called for help at the reception building and park staff members immediately contacted paramedics and went to the accident scene to assist and administer first aid. An ambulance arrived on the scene within 30 minutes and the injured hikers were taken to the nearest hospital in Cradock for treatment. Unusually aggressive behaviour Park rangers followed the spoor of the lone buffalo bull from the scene of the accident yesterday but were unable to locate the animal. The rangers will continue searching the area where the incident took place for the next few days in order to track down the buffalo bull. Rangers suspect the buffalo's unusually aggressive behaviour may indicate that it is sick or injured. Once the rangers have found the buffalo, it will be put down if found to be sick or injured to ensure that it does not endanger the lives of other visitors or staff. In the meantime, hiking trails have been closed until further notice.
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It is always sad to hear of a hiker being killed by an animal.This could have been avoided, if the group were taken out by a highly trained field guide, armed with the appropriate fire-arm and the skills of animal behavior, and tracking, like the rest of the National Parks that have some or all of the big 5. The buffalo is by nature an unprdictable animal, and this is well documented in many books, and wild life circles. It does not mean the animal is injured or ill! If it is, then yes dart him and treat him or destroy the bull. It should be law that hikers walking around in National Parks, be escourted in areas where the big five occur.Lesley-Ann you have all the recourses at your finger tips, I know I worked for National Parks, and trained many , many Field Guides....
Posted by: | 10 Oct 2010 21:35:39