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A tourist on an African safari left his vehicle to relieve himself and was trampled to death by an elephant

Bethany Dawson   

A tourist on an African safari left his vehicle to relieve himself and was trampled to death by an elephant
International1 min read
  • A Saudi tourist at Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park left his vehicle to relieve himself.
  • As he did so, an elephant spotted him, charged at him, and killed him.

A Saudi tourist was trampled to death by an elephant when he left his vehicle to relieve himself during a safari through the Murchison Falls national park in Uganda.

The man, identified as Ayman Sayed Elshahany, left his vehicle to relieve himself on January 25, when he was charged at and killed by an elephant, an Uganda Wildlife Authority spokesperson confirmed to The Guardian.

The Times report that Eshahany was not traveling with three companions but went further away from the vehicle than the others when they took their comfort break and could not run back in time when the elephant charged.

It is suspected that the elephant was a male bull in musth —characterized by highly aggressive behavior and accompanied by a massive rise in testosterone levels, said The Times. No action has been taken against the elephant.

Park officials said police would investigate Elshahany's death to "avoid a repeat of such incidents," according to The Guardian.

Residents of the Karusandara sub-county in Kasese district, where the park is located, have previously demanded the Uganda Wildlife Authority establish more ranger outposts to control animal attacks after a 60-year-old man was killed by an elephant, The Independent reports.

Insider has contacted the Uganda Wildlife Authority for comment.

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