Toddler dies in rare giraffe attack in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG – A giraffe crushed to death a 16-month-old toddler in an eastern region of South Africa yesterday, police said, in a rare attack by the world’s tallest mammal.

The attack occurred at a game farm around 270km northeast of the port city of Durban.

Police spokesman Nqobile Gwala said in a text message to AFP that a 25-year-old mother and her 16-month-old daughter were attacked around 1400 GMT at Kuleni Farm in the Hluhluwe area “when they were trampled by a giraffe”.

She said the girl was taken to a nearby doctor’s practice where she died, while the mother was rushed to the hospital for medical attention where she is in critical condition.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident. – AFP, October 20, 2022