A Colombian researcher working for an American university was trampled and killed by an elephant in Kibale National Park on Sunday 10th April 2022. Uganda Wildlife Authority confirmed the incident on Monday.
Sebastian Ramirez Amaya, a 30years old researcher based at Arizona State University in the United States together with another researcher and a guide in the park, was on their daily duty and had gone to carry out their routine research in the forest.
“They (the group) came across a lone elephant that charged them, forcing them to run in different directions. The elephant chased Sebastian and trampled him, resulting in his death,” UWA says in a press release statement on Monday.
“We have not experienced such an incident in the last 50 years of forestry research in Kibale National Park,” it added.
This comes short to be the second incident of travelers being killed by elephants in Uganda national parks.
In January of 2022, an elephant killed a Saudi Arabian traveler who was crossing through Murchison Falls National Park going to Nebi district and had a stopover for a short call and encountered an elephant which charged at him and trampled him dead.
And then UWA cautioned the public to avoid putting themselves in danger while driving through gazetted areas.
The safety of people in our protected areas remains paramount to us. We, therefore, appeal to the public especially those transiting through protected areas to take precautions and avoid putting themselves in harm’s way,” UWA’s previous statement stated.
Police in Kamwenge District launched their investigating circumstances under which a Colombian student was allegedly killed by an elephant in Kibale National Park. Said the Rwenzori West Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr. Vincent Twesige.
