Wildlife tourism safety

Namibian Lion Kills Conservationist at Safari Lodge

A 59-year-old German businessman, Bernd Kebbel, was killed by a lion during a camping trip at a luxury lodge in Namibia’s remote northwest. The attack occurred during an early morning toilet break, and while other campers scared the lion away, Kebbel succumbed to his injuries. This incident follows a recent lion attack in Kenya and highlights the increasing human-wildlife conflict in the region, exacerbated by drought conditions and declining prey populations. Authorities are investigating the incident and a full report is forthcoming.

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Thai Elephant Kills Tourist Bathing It at Sanctuary

A 22-year-old Spanish woman, Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, died Friday after being gored by an elephant while bathing it at a Koh Yao Elephant Care center in Thailand. The incident occurred during a tourist activity popular in the country, which also faces a dwindling wild elephant population and a rising captive elephant population used for tourism. Police are investigating the incident, and the elephant sanctuary and Spanish embassy have been contacted for comment. The tragedy underscores concerns about the risks of close human-elephant interaction within the Thai tourism industry.

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