By Dr Eddy Bajrovic*
Every year a handful of travellers are mauled to death or badly injured by wild animals. There’s been a spate of these too-close encounters in recent weeks.
While some victims are simply unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, many victims of animal attacks on land break the rules of interacting with wildlife as laid down by the expert guides and rangers at the national parks and game reserves they visit.
Last week, a lioness mauled to death a 29-year-old American tourist and severely injured her male companion in a terrifying attack which occurred inside their vehicle when they stopped in a private game park near the South African city of Johannesburg.
Their mistake? Having the car’s windows down and allowing the lioness to come too close.
Meals on wheels
The fatal attack was the latest involving big cats at The Lion Park. In March, an Australian tourist survived an attack by a lioness, which also attacked him through his car’s open window.
In America last week, a 62-year-old Australian tourist was gored by a bison which had been lying on grass near the famous Old Faithful Geyser in Wyoming’s iconic Yellowstone National Park.
His mistake? Trying to get an up-close shot of an already agitated bison.
The attack was the second in the past month by the normally docile creatures, which can weigh as much as a small car and run three times faster than humans.
A zoo – without bars
However, sometimes it’s the staff that breaks the rules, putting visitors at risk. In February, 15-year-old Sydney girl Neha Sharma had a lucky escape when attacked by a lion after a park ranger at Kudus Rus Game Lodge, also near Johannesburg, led her into an enclosure containing 5 lions, apparently to ‘impress her’.
So, what should you do when your trip includes encounters with dangerous animals in the wild?
Firstly, never forget that all wildlife is, well, wild. You’re not on the set of the Lion King getting chummy with a cast of cute and cuddly creatures!
This is the real deal – a zoo without bars. They may be used to the sight of humans, but it’s impossible to predict how a wild animal will respond to people at any given time.
Heed expert advice
We asked a number of African safari specialists and guides to help us compile a list of do’s and don’ts on how to behave around animals in the wild. Here’s their advice:
GO with a pro. There’s no substitute for knowledge and experience. Pay a little more for a guided tour with a competent guide instead of a less expensive, self-drive expedition.
LISTEN to what he/she says about what to do and how to behave, and take the time to read any literature or signs before you set off. Most importantly, ask them how you should react if attacked. Heeding their advice and keeping a cool head could save your life.
DON’T try to predict how the animals will behave. If an animal is injured, sick or just having a bad day it may focus its anger on a pesky intruder – you.
WATCH for baby animals. Don’t encourage closer contact because cute infants will almost certainly mean protective parents close by.
NEVER get out of the vehicle - even for a great photograph. Instead, ask your guide in advance if there are places on the route where you can safely get out.
ALWAYS walk in the open and don’t blunder into forests unless accompanied by an experienced guide.
DON’T do anything rash or sudden like bang the side of the vehicle to try to make an animal ‘do something’. Given a little time, patience and a respectful distance, the animals will move around and interact with each other, providing you with some great photos.
NEVER feed the animals and don’t carry food in your hand or pocket near animals (most animals have a great sense of smell). More people get bitten in Asia by angry monkeys mooching food than just about any other reason, creating the added potential risk of rabies or Herpes B virus infection.
ASK if it is safe to venture off on your own. Let your guide or camp host know where you're heading and how long you expect to be.
LEARN about the animals you might encounter and be vigilant and alert to their mood. Fail to read the signals and a sick, angry or grumpy elephant/buffalo/lion can be a killer.
EVEN when in a vehicle, always approach animals with caution and be wary of where you drive and stop. Stop directly in an elephant’s path and it may simply toss the car aside or walk over the top of it!
Small bite, big threat
The experts agree that the most dangerous creature in Africa isn’t the lion but the mosquito. Unlike lions and other large animals, insects are naturally disposed to feeding on humans to obtain the blood meal females need to produce eggs.
Of course, mozzies head a long list of disease-carrying insects to be found in Africa and many other regions of the world, from Asia to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Pacific.
The dangerous and sometimes lethal diseases insect can transmit include:
Mosquitoes: Anopheles species – Malaria; Aedes – Dengue fever, Rift Valley fever, Yellow fever, Chikungunya; Culex – Japanese encephalitis, Lymphatic filariasis, West Nile fever.
Sand flies: Leishmaniasis, Sand fly fever.
Ticks: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lyme disease, Relapsing fever (borreliosis), Rickettsial diseases (spotted fever and Q fever), Tick-borne encephalitis, and Tularaemia.
Triatomine bugs: Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).
Tsetse flies: Sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis).
Fleas: Plague (transmitted by fleas from rats to humans), Rickettsioses.
Black flies: Onchocerciasis (river blindness).
Rules of insect (non) engagement
As with bigger creatures, there’s a list of pretty simple rules for avoiding insects. In short, minimise the number of bites and you minimise the risk of infection.
Insect repellent remains a traveller’s best defence against all biting or stinging bugs.
You just need to be sure the product you choose is going to protect you. Check the label to see that it contains a proven active ingredient, such as diethyltoluamide (DEET), Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. (Travelvax Australia’s website has our range of endorsed products.)
Apply your repellent to all areas of exposed skin ANY TIME you’re outdoors – day or night. Get into the habit of carrying a tube of repellent in your bag, especially if you’re leaving your camp, hotel, or resort. When disease-carrying insect are around it’s also a smart move to:
– Move inside or cover up with long sleeves and pants, and shoes and socks, when biting insects are most active – especially around dawn and dusk.
– Sleep under a bed net treated with permethrin if your room is not screened and/or air-conditioned.
Safe, healthy travel means appreciating the risk posed by all creatures – great and small – you might encounter along the way.
* Dr Bajrovic is the Medical director of Travelvax Australia.
For more on protecting yourself from disease-carrying insects and vaccination advice for your next overseas trip, contact Travelvax Australia’s free travel advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free for landlines). You can also read about avoiding insect bites on our website and purchase repellents, bed nets, DIY permethrin treatment kits and a range of healthy travel products from our store.