A Mozambican immigrant was trampled to death by an elephant while trying to cross through the Kruger Park into South Africa, authorities said on Wednesday.
The woman — whose age is not known — was crossing with four others through the northernmost section of the park near Punda Maria, said Raymond Travers, park spokesperson.
Park rangers found the body early on Tuesday morning and re-created what happened based on the tracks, Travers said.
”As they were walking, an elephant charged. They only realised they were being charged when it was 20m way from them. They scattered,” Travers said.
However the elephant caught the woman and she was trampled to death.
Travers said the other four had disappeared — presumably into South Africa.
The Kruger Park is used regularly as a passage from Mozambique into South Africa, despite the risks involved, Travers said.
He said this was the second incident of elephant trampling in the Punda Maria area this year.
He said police would be opening an inquest docket. – Sapa