{"id":120749,"date":"2023-11-23T18:49:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T18:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogcamlodipine.com\/?p=120749"},"modified":"2023-11-23T18:49:01","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T18:49:01","slug":"anti-poaching-ranger-pinned-in-jaws-of-rampaging-hippo-in-deadly-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogcamlodipine.com\/world-news\/anti-poaching-ranger-pinned-in-jaws-of-rampaging-hippo-in-deadly-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-poaching ranger pinned in jaws of rampaging hippo in deadly attack"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    An anti-poaching ranger was crushed to death by a raging hippopotamus who charged at him when the park ranger was out on patrol.<\/p>\n

    Sphamandla Mthembu, 31, was crushed by the massive animal while patrolling the area, with the ranger crossing paths with the hippo while out on his duties. The beast rushed toward the 31-year-old at the Mkhuze Game Reserve in South Africa.<\/p>\n

    The ranger had been desperately trying to get away from the hippo as witnesses say it pinned him in a bite and kept him locked in its jaw.<\/p>\n

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    Even the help of other rangers could not release Mthembu from the clutches of the beasts' jaw, with the ranger sadly dying at the scene of the hippo attack.<\/p>\n

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    Reserve communications manager Musa Ntambo says three fellow rangers, along with Mthembu, had been patrolling the area and tracking the footprints of potential poachers spotted in the area.<\/p>\n

    He said of the attack: "Within a few minutes, one of Mthembu\u2019s colleagues heard a gunshot from Mthembu\u2019s direction. When he went to investigate, he saw a hippo attacking Mthembu. Mthembu\u2019s colleague started shooting at the hippo until it died."<\/p>\n

    Tributes have since poured in for the ranger, with reserve CEO Sihle Mkhize offering his condolences to the family, who had recently just grieved the loss of a child. <\/p>\n

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    Mkhize said: "My heart broke when I heard of this incident, and finding the words to say to the family was made more difficult when I realised that Mr Mthembu had recently lost his child.<\/p>\n

    "His family was still trying to come to terms with the loss of a child, and this unfortunate incident happened. My condolences to his partner, remaining child and the Mthembu family."<\/p>\n

    Hippos, while seemingly docile, can be highly dangerous and are currently responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other large animals. The beasts can be very territorial when threatened by or encountering humans. <\/p>\n

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