A two-year-old boy has been killed by a leopard in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
The leopard killed the toddler, who was the child of a staff member at the national park, on Tuesday night at his living quarters in the park, a spokesperson for the park confirmed in a statement.
The boy was taken to hospital in the nearby town of Shongwe by family members after the incident but was pronounced dead by doctors.
The incident was “tragic” and “very rare,” the park spokesperson said, adding that “in parks like the KNP predators do interact with tourists and staff.”
This could lead to a “change in natural behavior” in the animals, which could result in “unfortunate incidents such as this.”
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the family during this trying time, we wish them strength and will give them all the support they need as an organization,” said Fundisile Mketeni, the chief executive officer of South African National Parks, in a press statement seen by CNN.
“It is never easy to lose a loved one especially under such tragic circumstances, this is the risk we live with on a daily basis as we help conserve our species for the benefit of all. May the young toddler’s soul rest in eternal peace,” Mketeni added.
The animal was later found and shot dead by a ranger at the park.
Terrifying Elephant Stampede in Kruger National Park
It is a truly terrifying moment caught on tape at the Kruger National Park in Northeastern Africa for a group of Australia tourists.
WATCH:
While on a safari, the car the tourists are traveling in comes to a stop in thick brush. Suddenly, and with little warning, a large elephant comes charging at the car from the side as visitors sit helplessly on board. At the last second, the elephant slows and veers off course, just missing the tourists left sitting shaken in the car.
Not a moment later, dozens of elephants suddenly come into the camera’s view and sprint past the front of the car. Everyone is in shock, as are viewers when they watch the video for the first time. The elephants are stampeding past, making loud noises with their trunks as they flash their white tusks.
The safari guide warns the tourists to remain silent to avoid provoking an attack. In the background, you can hear them commenting in whispers about how scared and terrified they are. Viewers watching from the safety of their homes can share that sentiment. This is a wild, terrifying video you just must watch for yourself.
Credit: Newsflare
NTD News staff contributed to this article.
