Saudi Tourist 'Killed on the Spot' After Aggressive Elephant Trampled Him on Safari

Authorities in Uganda are carrying out an investigation into the untimely demise of a Saudi national after getting trampled to death by an elephant.

The tragedy occurred on Tuesday at the Murchison Falls national park, which is a renowned tourist attraction in Africa. According to Independent, the deceased was attacked by an elephant while taking a rest.

Ayman Sayed Elshahany, a tourist from the United Arab Emirates, was killed while on a safari game drive, a thrilling excursion in a national park or reserve that includes viewing wildlife from a moving vehicle.

AFP reports that Bashir Hangi, the spokesman for Uganda Wildlife Authority, said that Elshahany and his colleagues were on their way to Arua city when the incident occurred. The group had taken a break from the safari game drive to eat some lunch.

In a statement, Hangi said: "They stopped along the way and the deceased went out of the car, an elephant charged at him, killed him on the spot," as per The Guardian.

Investigation into the Death of the Tourist

The wildlife park's officials have launched an investigation to find out what happened to the tourist and why an elephant charged at him.

Moreover, in order to prevent a recurrence of the occurrence, Hangi reports that park security protocols would be reviewed for visitors.

Locals that live near national parks have also been terrified of elephants. Attacks by wild animals are common in this east African nation. At a different park in the west of the country, a female game ranger's three-year-old son was eaten by a leopard in 2018.

Last year, following the death of a 60-year-old man by an elephant in the Karusandara sub-county of Kasese district, local residents urged that the Uganda Wildlife Authority set up more ranger stations to better regulate animal attacks in the area.

Animal-human confrontations have increased in certain of Uganda's national parks, despite the country's reliance on wildlife tourism.

Human and Wildlife Interaction in Uganda

Often overlooked in the fight to save endangered species (all great ape species are endangered), human populations are the ones affected.

As restrictions around protected areas make it increasingly difficult for humans to get resources, human settlements face increasing hazards from wildlife assaults and/or disruptions to agriculture, as per Jane Goodall.

However, there is a way out of this conundrum: In Uganda, the Jane Goodall Institute has been working with local communities to build community funds that safeguard local people from losses due to wildlife conflict, ensuring a better future for everyone.

There are 42 million people living in Uganda. Human populations are increasing at an accelerating rate, putting the ecology at risk.

As a result of the increased human-wildlife interaction, locals frequently approach these forests in search of water and a steady supply of wood for cooking.

Also, human-wildlife violence has been worsened by struggle for dwindling resources, which has led to crop devastation, elephants mauling humans, and human attacking elephants.

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