Cape Town - World renowned conservationist Ian Redmond has expressed shock after he was charged by an elephant while out in the field in Kenya.
After working for 36 years with elephants at the Mount Elgon National Park and forest reserve, Redmond said he had never expected to see an elephant attack a human.
Redmond, who is a wildlife consultant with Born Free Foundation in Western Kenya, said the incident happened while he was watching a herd cross a forest glade which was about 150m away.
At that point one of the elephants in the reserve turned and started charging towards him.
The elephant’s behaviour is believed to be caused by poachers and charcoal burners who operate illegal charcoal kilns at the nature reserve, causing the elephant’s unease towards people.
Recalling the scene of the attack which was captured on video last month, Redmond said: “I vividly recall as the elephant made its approach.
“The feel of my hand on its tusks and the softness of the skin on his upper lip.
“I was pushed into a high speed backward roll and found myself momentarily upside down between his front legs with my feet touching his chest and then completed the backward roll and landed on my hands and knees under his belly facing his hind legs.”
The wildlife conservationist managed to escape the danger he faced and said he believed that the elephant aimed to put him in a position so that it could reach him with its trunk or kneel on him.
Rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) foiled the attack by firing shots in the air.
Kitili Mbathi, director of KWS, said: “What an incredible encounter. It makes compelling reading and I am pleased that Ian survived to tell the story.
“We must eliminate charcoal burning and hopefully an appeal will generate some funding to help us in our efforts to protect the Mount Elgon Forest and its elephants.”
Born Free will now also launch a new appeal to support the Mount Elgon Elephant Monitoring team, the KWS, and to help eradicate illegal tree-felling and charcoal burning in their forest habitat.