News24 reports that a field ranger at Leopard Rock Lodge in the North West was killed when a musth elephant attacked him on Friday.  

Mark Lautenbach, who was a manager and guide at the Madikwe Game Reserve, where the lodge is located, suffered extensive injuries after he tried to redirect the elephant into the bush after it broke down a fence and entered the lodging area.  A musth elephant describes a periodic condition in bull elephants, characterised by highly aggressive behaviour and accompanied by a large rise in reproductive hormones.  The animal was put down after the incident.  North West MEC for Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development, Desbo Mohono, noted that Lautenbach had been a highly committed and trained ranger with years of experience in the field and described his death as a "loss to the wildlife sector".

• Read Sesona Ngqakamba’s short report on this story at News24
• Read the North West MEC’s statement of condolences at SA Govt News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page