Was the Red Hartebeest that collided so spectacularly with off-road cyclist Evan van der Spuy driven by lust? As the video of the incident, during a race at Albert Falls, continued to be one of the most watched in the world, many have wondered what led the buck to smash into Van der Spuy.
One of the more bizarre suggestions was that perhaps the buck was sexually aroused by the cyclist.
But Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife conservationist Tony Conway said:
“He definitely didn’t think the cyclist was a female.
And, even if he did, he wouldn’t have approached her with a run-up from 50m. It’s not a case of ‘brace yourself Sheila, here I come’.”
Then what led to the incident, which was filmed by another cyclist, Travis Walker?
“I think it was accidental. It’s definitely not an attack and if he had attacked the cyclist he would have finished him off.”
Conway said it was “unheard of” for hartebeest to attack humans in the wild. “I don’t think he was looking where he was going. It’s possible he was running from something else. My feeling is that he totally misjudged the speed of the bicycle.”
Van der Spuy
suffered concussion, was treated in hospital and released the next day as the country’s newest celebrity. And the buck? We can’t be sure… But it’s safe to assume his next love interest isn’t likely to have wheels, pedals and handlebars. - Sunday Tribune