Man killed by an Elephant in Hoedspruit

A senior elephant carer, Israel Shambira, was gored to death by one of the animals at a sanctuary in Hoedspruit, Limpopo on Saturday.

According to a statement from the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development [HERD], the elephants were out in the bush on the reserve when one of the elephants, named Limpopo, pushed down a tree shortly after 3pm.

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At the time, Shambira was seated under the tree. Moments later, the elephant unexpectedly turned her attention towards him and fatally gored him.

Despite immediate efforts from his colleagues, nothing could be done.

According to HERD, Shambira was one of the original carers who arrived with the elephants from Zimbabwe in March 2002.

He is described as a man of faith, known for his daily prayers in the vegetable garden and his unwavering dedication to HERD.

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“We don’t know what went through Limpopo’s mind and why she did it,” said Elephant Manager at HERD Tigere Matipedza.

“Just this morning, everything in the bush was calm, with no signs of agitation among the elephants.”

Meanwhile, HERD Advisor Brett Mitchell, from the Elephant Reintegration Trust, has been called in to provide guidance.

“He will remain on site in the coming days as we carefully assess the situation. No decisions will be taken hastily, as the implications of this event affect both carers and elephants profoundly,” said HERD.