Italian tourist trampled to death by elephant in Kenya

An Italian tourist was trampled to death by an elephant while photographing it at the Tsavo National Park.

The 66-year-old man identified by police as Fernando Mocclola and his wife were booked at the Swara camp within Kulalu ranch where the incident occurred, according to police.

He left his wife in the tent to click away images of the jumbo at a watering point near Sabaki River when he was attacked.

Malindi Police chief Muchangi Mutava said the elephant must have charged at the tourist when he provoked it by moving closer to take photographs.

“He excused him while taking breakfast with the wife and proceeded to water point and started taking pictures, provoking the elephant that charged towards him and attacked him seriously wounding him,” Mutava said.

The tourist was pronounced dead at the camp before he could be airlifted to hospital.

Travel documents in the couple’s possession show that they arrived in the country last month and were due to leave next month.

AFP