According to national park officials, a suspected poacher was trampled to death by a herd of elephants in South Africa over the weekend.
The man and two suspected accomplices were trying to run away when rangers spotted them in the Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves, on Saturday, the South African National Parks said in a statement.
Rangers requested backup from the Airwing and K9 unit and when the suspects realized they had been spotted, they dropped an ax and a bag with their belongings ‘in an attempt to escape’, the statement said.
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Elephants will be depicted on 26 November 2020 in the nearby Kruger National Park in Malelane, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)
One of the suspects told rangers that the group encountered a herd of elephants and that he was not sure if his friends could manage to escape. Rangers searched the area and found that a man had been ‘badly trampled’, who later reportedly succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities are still searching for the third suspect, who continued to flee and is believed to have sustained an eye injury.
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A rifle was also recovered. Officials said the trio is suspected of trying to poach rhinos in the area.
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“It’s unfortunate that a life was lost unnecessarily,” said Gareth Coleman, executive director of the Kruger National Park. “The campaign against poaching is the responsibility of us all; it threatens many livelihoods, destroys families and takes up much-needed resources to fight crime that can be used to create jobs and development.”