Park Founder Who Said He'd Die by Elephant Is Fatally Trampled

Gary Freeman, 65, a long-time safari operator who co-founded Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, was fatally trampled on April 9 when an elephant charged a small tour group he was leading. Freeman reportedly said he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one; despite attempts to intervene, he died from his injuries. Police have opened an inquest into the incident, with experts assessing the elephant as a potential threat. The attack highlights the risks of wildlife tourism, though elephant assaults remain relatively rare compared with the animals’ broader global toll.