Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia safari attack

Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia safari attack

Juliana Gle Tourneau, a 64-year-old American tourist from New Mexico, was killed by an elephant during a safari drive near the Maramba Cultural Bridge. The elephant attacked her vehicle, pulling Tourneau out and trampling her, according to officials.

The group had halted due to elephant herd traffic when the attack occurred, as reported by a police official to Zambian national broadcaster ZNBC.

This marks the second fatal elephant attack on a US tourist in Zambia this year. Previously, in March, 79-year-old Gail Mattson from Minnesota was killed during a game drive in Kafue National Park. An elephant had charged, flipping the truck, resulting in Mattson’s death and injuries to five others.

Rona Wells, Mattson’s daughter, described the incident as a “tragic accident” during her mother’s dream adventure.

A video of the March attack, which went viral, shows the elephant charging and overturning the vehicle. In the footage, voices can be heard expressing shock and fear as the situation unfolds.

Zambian authorities have urged tourists to exercise extreme caution around wildlife. Neighboring countries Zimbabwe and Botswana have similarly raised concerns about increasing elephant populations and associated risks. Zimbabwe, in particular, has reported a rise in deadly elephant encounters in recent years.

The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of wildlife interactions and the need for heightened safety measures during safari experiences.

Source: BBC

Elephant kills American tourist in Zambia safari attack