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A poacher in a South African national park who reportedly tried to shoot white rhinos was trampled to death by a herd of elephants on Saturday.
The illegal hunter had entered Kruger National Park a day earlier with another man as both were allegedly looking to kill a white rhino, the U.K.’s Daily Star reported.
The duo were armed with a high-powered rifle and an axe and one of them was reportedly lining up his shot when a herd of elephants nearby ambushed them.
“The two ran in different directions, but the one lining up the shot was the slowest to his feet and the elephants went for him first,” a Kruger National Park source told the Daily Star. “He was quickly overrun and the elephants trampled him into the earth and all that we found was basically a very large bloodstain around the clothing he was in.”
The source speculated that the elephants may have attacked the poachers because they saw them sneaking up on the rhinos and were trying to protect them.
“For us, it’s a big boost when the animals win and poachers lose,” the source said. “The Kruger (park) is huge and we can’t be everywhere, so it’s nice when the nellies give us some help.”
Poacher’s body found by officials
The other poacher escaped and reported his missing accomplice to authorities when he made it home, saying he heard him screaming during the attack, South African National Parks (SANParks) said in a statement on its website.
The incident was reported to the South African Police Service, which arrested the suspect.
“The individual subsequently admitted to participating in the unlawful entry into the park and accompanied SANParks Rangers from the Pafuri Ranger Post to the area where the incident reportedly occurred,” SANParks said.
It said the rangers followed the tracks from the Luvuvhu River about 6 km inland and found the missing man’s body.
Park officials said the remains of a buffalo were also found during the search, saying the animal may have been illegally hunted.
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Majority of rhino species critically endangered
Kruger National Park is home to 148 mammal species, including an estimated 1,500 lions, 17,000 elephants, 48,000 buffaloes and 1,000 leopards, SANParks said on its website.
Last year, 175 rhinos were killed by poachers at the park, which was double the number of rhinos killed in 2024.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, three of the world’s remaining five rhino species are critically endangered.
A global ban on the sale of their horns has raised their value with a 2023 Bloomberg report estimating that a rhino horn can sell for $40,000 US on the black market in China.
The horns are made of keratin — the same protein found in human hair and nails — and are prized in some parts of Asia, where they’re traditionally believed to hold healing properties, though scientific research has debunked those claims.