Wildlife officer succumbs to buffalo attack injuries

Cathrine Moemedi
INSET: Dimakatso Ntshebe confirmed the incident

A 47-year-old Wildlife officer who originates from Etsha 13 has this morning lost his life from injuries sustained from an attack by a stray buffalo.

According to Ngamiland Regional Wildlife Officer, Dimakatso Ntshebe, they received a report about the buffalo which was seen roaming around Maun Bus rank where it damaged a vehicle at around 4am.

‘’ At 5am our officers, the police and veterinary officers followed up on the report. By around 7am its foot prints were seen heading towards a bush at least 500 meters from Maun General Hospital,” explained Ntshebe.

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‘’Our officers dispatched from the vehicle and followed the footprints. Unfortunately the buffalo saw them and it charged and injured the officer, “ added Ntshebe.

The officer who was described as one of the longest serving and experienced wildlife officers was rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial hospital where he passed on at around 8am.

The family of the deceased have been notified of the unfortunate incident and the buffalo has since been gunned down.

According Ntshebe there are more buffaloes that have escaped the buffalo fence and they are still looking for them.

“The buffaloes come from the Okavango delta, we have a buffalo fence but since it was destroyed by elephants, buffaloes easily escape and move towards the villages,”  Ntshebe said.

Ntshebe has urged the public to report any sightings of such buffaloes to the police, wildlife or even Dikgosi.

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He encouraged the public to desist from taking matters into their own hands as the animals can be dangerous.

 

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