US tourist dies in elephant attack in Zambia, second this year » Explorersweb

A US tourist died during an elephant encounter in Zambia on Wednesday. It was the second fatal tourist accident of this kind this year.

According to local partner broadcaster ZNBC, 64-year-old Juliana Gle Tourneau died in the incident near the Maramba Cultural Bridge in the city of Livingstone.

ABC reported that a herd of elephants had gathered near the bridge, causing a traffic jam that included Tourneau’s vehicle. She and her companions were watching the elephants when, according to officials, one of the animals attacked the vehicle, throwing Tourneau out and trampling her to death.

Tourneau, of New Mexico, died around 5:50 p.m. local time.

This is the second time this year that an American tourist has lost her life in an elephant encounter in Zambia. Gail Mattson, 79, of Minnesota, died in March when her safari vehicle was attacked by a bull elephant in the Kafue Nature Reserve.

Zambian authorities subsequently urged tourists to exercise extreme caution when observing wildlife throughout the country.