Elephant Attack Claims Life of New Mexico Woman
In a shocking turn of events, a 64-year-old US tourist from New Mexico, Juliana Gle Tourneau, was killed by an elephant during a safari drive in Zambia on Wednesday. The elephant reportedly pulled her from her vehicle and trampled her, as confirmed by officials.
The attack occurred near the Maramba Cultural Bridge in Livingstone, where the safari group had stopped due to traffic caused by an elephant herd. Ms. Tourneau was rushed to a clinic in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park but was declared dead upon arrival. Her injuries included deep wounds on her right shoulder blade and forehead, a fractured left ankle, and a slightly depressed chest, according to a police statement.
Southern Province Police Commissioner Auxensio Daka told Zambian station ZNBC that Ms. Tourneau died around 5:50 pm after being knocked from the parked vehicle. Officials have not disclosed whether others were injured or the cause of the elephant’s aggression.
Rising elephant attacks in Zambia
This tragic event marks the second fatal elephant attack on a US tourist in Zambia this year. In March, 79-year-old Gail Mattson from Minnesota was killed in a similar incident in Kafue National Park when an elephant charged and overturned a truck, resulting in her death and injuries to five others.
Authorities urge caution
Following these incidents, Zambian authorities are urging tourists to exercise extreme caution while observing wildlife. Similar warnings have been issued in neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe and Botswana, which have also seen increasing elephant populations and deadly attacks in recent years.
Human fatalities in elephant encounters are rare, according to experts. Nikhil Advani, a senior director at the World Wildlife Fund, told the New York Times, “This is a freak accident. It’s probably just some sort of coming together of unfortunate circumstances that led to this.”
The tragic loss of Juliana Gle Tourneau highlights the inherent risks of wildlife tourism and underscores the importance of vigilance and safety measures in safari adventures.