A suspected poacher was killed by a herd of elephants while allegedly attempting to hunt white rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
According to The Daily Mail, two men had entered the massive wildlife reserve carrying an axe and a rifle. The pair were reportedly targeting white rhinos, whose horns are sold for between $20,000 (£14,832) and $60,000 (£44,497) per kilogram on the oriental medicine market, according to LADbible.
But before they could carry out the hunt, they encountered a herd of elephants resting beneath the trees to escape the intense heat.
The two men reportedly ran in separate directions when the elephants charged.
A source from Kruger National Park told The Daily Mail that the man who had been preparing to shoot was unable to get away as quickly as his companion.
“The two ran in different directions, but the one lining up the shot was the slowest to his feet and the elephants went for him first.
“He was quickly overrun and the elephants trampled him into the earth and all that we found was basically a very large bloodstain around the clothing he was in.”
Elephants killed alleged poacher
The source suggested that the elephants may have recognized the threat posed by the men.
“Elephants are extremely intelligent and, as they say, never forget, and may well have witnessed poachers before sneaking up on rhinos and went to protect them,” they said.
The incident was discovered after an alert was raised at the Pafuri Ranger Lodge. Rangers then traveled roughly four miles into the park, where they found the suspected poacher’s body.
JP Louw, a spokesperson for South African National Parks, said the authorities had initially received information that two people had illegally entered the park to hunt.
“We received information that two poachers entered the park illegally through the Pafuri area to hunt.
“It would seem they encountered a herd of elephants and fled in different directions, and one suspect on returning home later reported his accomplice was missing.
“He said while he was running away he heard loud screaming and after his arrest he led us back to that area and we discovered the body of the trampled suspect.”
The surviving suspect was subsequently arrested by South African police and is awaiting a criminal trial.
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