MBOMBELA – A ranger was attacked and injured by a buffalo in the Kruger National Park (KPN) yesterday.
According to the South African National Parks (SANParks), the ranger, Mr Don English, is one of the Park’s Regional Rangers.
He was attacked by the buffalo around 10:30 whilst conducting a routine buffalo sustainable off take exercise.
During the exercise, a buffalo bull charged English at very close quarters.
“It hit English on his chest before throwing him repeatedly in the air. English managed to grab onto the buffalo’s horns during the attack and hung on for his life until the buffalo eventually succumbed,” states a media release from SANParks.
English was immediately attended to by a local doctor and airlifted by helicopter to a nearby medical facility where he is receiving further medical attention.
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The KNP Managing Executive, Mr Glenn Phillips, has extended his well wishes to English on behalf of all staff in SANParks.
“This is a huge blow for us as we are just four days away from celebrating the World Ranger Day on Sunday, 31 July.
English, as the Regional Ranger has been one of the leaders on the ground getting the Ranger Corps ready for this important event and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.
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