American Mother, Baby Killed by Elephant in Kenya

abcnew.go.com
By JASON STRAZIUSO Associated Press Writer
January 7, 2010
NAIROBI, Kenya

Sharon Brown was hiking with family and her 1-year-old daughter in a Kenyan nature reserve when suddenly their unarmed guide froze in his tracks. Around a corner was an elephant.

A lone elephant charged out of the brush as an American family was hiking near Mount Kenya and trampled to death the mother and the 1-year-old daughter she held in her arms, officials said Wednesday Jan 6 2009.

Four adults and the baby were walking with an unarmed guide just outside Mount Kenya National Park on Monday morning when the elephant charged, said Kenya Wildlife Service official Michael Kipkeu. Brown, originally from New York, and her husband are listed as faculty members at the International School of Kenya. Friends and colleagues at the American-curriculum K-12 school held a memorial service Wednesday

The guide shouted to turn back, but it was too late. The elephant — which was protecting a calf nearby — gored the young American mother, tossed her in the air and dragged her body into the forest, a relative said. The baby, who was flung out of her carrier, also died.

\"We watched helplessly,\" Brown\'s brother-in-law, Rick LeVert, said of the tragic end to what was supposed to have been a scenic nature walk in the forest surrounding the lodge where the family was staying near Mount Kenya National Park.

The 38-year-old New York native and her husband Jeff had decided to take the guided hike Monday with their baby, Margaux, after being told by the owner of the Castle Forest Lodge that it was safe for such a young child, said LeVert, who accompanied them with his wife Libby.

\"We were told several times that the walk was suitable for a mother with a baby. At no time did someone say there was a risk of an elephant charging,\" LeVert said.

Melia van Laar of the Castle Forest Lodge said by e-mail Thursday that the hike is suitable for a mother and young child, and that \"we always do\" warn guests about dangers. She said a written warning was posted on an information board.

The group had been walking over flat terrain looking at mushrooms and ants, LeVert said, when it began to rain. They headed toward a more forested area where they hiked for about an hour before the guide hesitated at a blind corner.

\"At that point he turned and yelled \'Go back!\'\" LeVert said. \"Sharon, who was next to me, turned and slipped on wet ground and a branch. I helped her up, and ... 15 to 20 meters (yards) up the trail was the elephant.\"

\"It was not a lone elephant. It was a mother with a calf. We turned and we began to run. It was clear to everyone if we stayed on the path we had no chance,\" LeVert said. \"I yelled to Sharon to come with me. I went to the left side, she went to the right side.\"

The elephant charged to the right, ramming into Brown, then throwing her into the air and dragging her into the forest. Margaux was tossed from her baby carrier. She was barely alive, but the family immediately knew Brown had been killed.

The elephant, making growling noises, backed up about 50 yards, allowing family members to creep toward Brown\'s body, LeVert said. Because she could not be saved, the family decided to leave her body and make the trek back to the lodge to try to save Margaux; the baby died en route.

LeVert said the family blamed the lodge staff for not warning them about potential dangers and for failing to provide adequate emergency help after the tragedy.

\"We\'re not stupid. We know we were in the wild and anything could happen. But the guide did not hesitate and said the walk was suitable. The owner did not hesitate and said the walk was suitable,\" he said.

However, because Castle Forest lies just outside the boundary of Mt. Kenya National Park, the family was with a hotel guide who was not allowed to carry a gun, said Kentice Tikolo, a spokeswoman for the Kenya Wildlife Service. Only park rangers can carry guns.

At the lodge, LeVert said the owner did not have any emergency contact numbers for medical authorities or the Kenya Wildlife Service. Van Laar said her lodge does have emergency contacts but they weren\'t programmed into her phone because she never had to call them. She added that she stayed with the family the whole time.

Tikolo, the spokeswoman for the Kenya Wildlife Service, said the elephant\'s aggression likely came from the fact that the calf was present.

Deaths caused by animals are common enough in Kenya that the government has a set rate to pay families in the case of such killings — about $2,600, a large sum for rural Kenyans. The government pays $660 for injuries caused by animals.

Monday\'s attack recalled a 2000 elephant attack on British tourist Wendy Smith while she was jogging inside the Il Ngwesi ranch, 60 miles north of the lodge. Smith, who survived with a crushed pelvis, had also been accompanied an unarmed guide.

She was awarded $1 million in compensation by a Kenyan court in a case that forced organizations dealing with wildlife tourism to review security measures.

\"The incident taught us and the people who manage wildlife tourism a lesson,\" said Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto. \"If the people want to go to places where they are exposed to danger then we recommend armed escorts.\"

Brown and her husband worked at the International School of Kenya, where both were teachers and she was the librarian. Previously, she had served in the Peace Corps in Bangladesh and Uganda, her father John Laurie said.

\"Sharon was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. Margaux was a beautiful and vibrant child. They were both dearly loved, we will miss them terribly,\" said Brown\'s sister-in-law, Joellen Valentine.

She was awarded $1 million in compensation by a Kenyan court in a case that forced organizations dealing with wildlife tourism to review security measures.

\"The incident taught us and the people who manage wildlife tourism a lesson,\" said Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto. \"If the people want to go to places where they are exposed to danger then we recommend armed escorts.\"

Brown and her husband worked at the International School of Kenya, where both were teachers and she was the librarian. Previously, she had served in the Peace Corps in Bangladesh and Uganda, her father John Laurie said.

\"Sharon was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. Margaux was a beautiful and vibrant child. They were both dearly loved, we will miss them terribly,\" said Brown\'s sister-in-law, Joellen Valentine.

Associated Press writers Tom Odula in Nairobi and Michael Astor in New York contributed to this report.

Article and photo at: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=9507524

Poster\'s note: Per KWS \" It was carelessness by the lodge and this is the second time! We are going to discipline them for this, and I can assure you that no elephant will be killed.

A sad story, but does people who go to africa and go on a walk not know there are animals that can hurt them out there?? It is hard to believe that they wouldn't know the dangers. I have been on safari and I realized very quickly that I don't want to walk very far without someone with a gun. there are animals around every corner. No animal even tame farm animals can be trusted 100%. I don't blame the elephant at all she did what any mother would do.

A tragic story and something that never should have been attempted, especially with an infant in tow.

However, I love walking in the African bush and I recommend it to anyone who knows and loves wildlife and who has the sense to be able to read an animal's intentions. Of course, their intentions may not be picked up on until it is too late...or they may be hidden in the bush and become startled. I don't walk with people with guns because I think it more stimulating and thrilling to not use that as a crutch. I've known people with guns who still got trampled by elephants, gored by buffalo, skewered by rhino horn or bitten by a well-concealed snake.

But especially - I would never want an animal killed to prevent me from getting injured/killed or to be killed in retribution for just defending itself. I think any adult should have that choice...certainly many people living on ranches, or in wildlife reserves deal with these animals on a daily basis. Conservation Biologists who I've worked with in Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa...go out in the bush to conduct their work each and every day.

Camel safaris in Kenya are walking safaris like the week-long one I took along the Ewaso Nyiro River....the camels are used only to carry camp equipment and luggage.

I have walked the bush in Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and I look forward to many more walks. If I die on my next walk - so be it. I sign a declaration that I, or my family will not hold the company/lodge/safari leaders liable, whatsoever.

However, taking an infant or any other small child is complete foolishness...unless you are living in the bush as a conservationist/photographer, etc. Look at Jane Goodall who raised her son by her side in the remote bush in Tanzania with her photographer husband. Or, Daphne Sheldrick who raised her beautiful daughter Angela in Tsavo in the early years of the park's history.

True there are some very foolish people who take risks not worth taking and then the animal is blamed and sometimes killed for the stupid choices of the humans. Jan - I know you have very valid reasons for your stand against these walks. But I think understanding Africa through the soles of your feet has a place in the safari experience.

Yes walking in the bush is special, we carry a signed, witnessed declaration holding ourselves responsible for any mishap. A copy is also in our packs.
Although Benson carries a rifle, as a registered & highly qualified walking guide regulations states he has to, he is clear to point out in his brief that no animal will be shot. The one time when we were threatened the only thing made ready was a thunderflash.

I don't kno where to start commenting..............

It's a tragedy for the family - first.

Based on the article the owner need also be taught a lesson. How can he say "it's safe" not to mention the company of the baby?

But how on Earth does it come to a mother's mind to carry a baby for a walk in an unknown (to her) terrain in Africa?

Of course now the lodge will be taught what it means to mess with an American tourist and his/her lawyers.

Stupidity and ignorance is a fatal combination.

And yes Kipper - also not for us: If we invade animal kingdom it's our decision and we take the risk. No animal shall pay the price tag for our "adventure" within its habitat!

Indemnity forms for animals should be the rule. Maybe that would make people think FIRST!

Kat: As you indicated, I am totally against bushwalks and would like to see them outlawed.

I realize that you, Pippa, Kipper, Simba, Cody are all strongly in favor. However, there are a few things perhaps you aren't taking into account.

1) You are in the wildlife's territory and are an unexpected visitor, and wildlife sees you as a threat
and will be more apt to attack than if you were staying in camp. Over time animals get used
to the camp routine, the people's actions around the camp and know you won't be allowed to
approach them - they feel safe. When you suddently surprise any animal, it is a threat to them
not knowing what your intentions are.

2) By camps/lodges allowing bushwalks, they can't very easily say you can go, but they can't.
They are thinking of one thing, making more money.
You people are unusual because you all have a history of spending a lot of time in Africa.
That can't be said for most tourists who want to go on bushwalks for the experience and
even perhaps make them look more macho. The average first-time Africa tourist doesn't
have a clue as to the dangers that might present themselves, and they certainly don't
know how to react. Even you Kat, with your artificial hips, could you run fast enough to get
out of the way of a charging elephant, rhino or buffalo? I know I couldn't! Many people
have some type of medical problem which should preclude them from undertaking this
type of offering. Then you think of people like Dr. Kashmiri, the vet, who treated animals
in the bush for years, and yet was killed by an elephant he was trying to help. There are
just too many variables for bushwalks to be offered to the average tourist.

3) Whether you ask that an animal not be killed in retaliation to your death/injury, many
wildlife authorities will do it anyway figuring once the animal has done it, it will be more apt
to do it again.

4) As we all know, the indemnity forms we are made to sign for everything in Africa aren't worth
the paper they are written on. All one needs to do is get a good lawyer and the lodge or
camp that offered you the bushwalk will end up paying big time - and they will just pass
off the cost by further raising rates.

5) All of us who go on safaris are already intruding into the wildlife's territory just by being
there. We go in the hopes that by calling attention to these magnificent animals we
might be able to help bring about a change, if only in one person's thinking. Bush walks
just cut down further on the "safe territory" the animals feel they have to just be animals.
For these reasons and more I am totally against the average tourist being offered game walks.
- Edited by Cody on 10.01.2010, 13:59 -