Elephants trample suspected poacher to death in South African national park

Rangers at Kruger National Park in South Africa on Saturday discovered the “badly trampled” body of a suspected poacher who wasn’t able to escape a herd of elephants.

Kruger is one of South Africa’s largest game reserves, home to elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalos. On Saturday, park rangers spotted three suspected poachers, and were able to capture one. He told the rangers one of his companions ran into a herd of elephants, and he wasn’t sure if the man made it out alive. Later, the man’s injured body was found.

Rangers are still trying to find a third suspect who sustained an eye injury while being chased. The three men are suspected of trying to poach rhinos, officials said, and during their investigation, rangers have discovered an axe and rifle.

“The campaign against poaching is the responsibility of all of us,” Gareth Coleman, managing executive of Kruger National Park, said in a statement. “It threatens many livelihoods, destroys families, and takes much-needed resources to fight crime, which could be used for creating jobs and development.”