By Spy Uganda
A Colombian researcher has been trampled to death by an elephant in Kibale National Park in western Uganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said Monday.
READ ALSO: Saudi Tourist Smashed By Elephant To Death In Murchison Falls National Park
Kibale National Park protects the moist evergreen rainforest. It is 766 square kilometres (296 sq mi) in size and ranges between 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) and 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in elevation. Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest.
Sebastian Ramirez Amaya, based at Arizona State University in the United States, was with another researcher and a guide in the national park, known for its wildlife and research centre when he died yesterday.
READ ALSO: Grief As Elephants Kill Ranger In Murchison Falls Park
“They came across a lone elephant that charged them, forcing them to run in different directions,” UWA said in a statement on Monday.
“The elephant chased Sebastian and trampled him, resulting in his death,” the statement added, saying it was the first such deadly incident in the national park for 50 years.
READ ALSO: Shock As UWA Compensates Family Of Elephant Attack Victim With Only Shs2m
It’s however worth noting that in January this year, a Saudi tourist was trampled to death by an elephant during a game drive at another popular park in Uganda, Murchison Falls, after leaving the car he was travelling in.
