SANParks.org Forums

This is a translation of an article in Volksblad dated 2011-11-01 22:53 for those of you that do not already know:

A game-rangers life was heroically saved yesterday in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park when he was attacked on the back of his truck by a lion. Mr Albert Bojone was litererally saved from the lions jaws when Mr Grahame Ellis , a biotechnologist and researcher in the park jumped from the truck and pulled him into the cab. The lion had hold of Bojone by his boot which was left behing in its mouth when Ellis pulled him loose. The lion, still with the boot in his mouth, was shot.
The lion first caught Bojone by the arm, which Bojone managed to free and then jumped onto the roof of the cab.
It was probably a revenge attack after one of the four lions in the pride over the weekend was shot after a cow was attacked.
Ms Henriette Engelbrecht, marketing and communications manager of the South African National Parks (SANParks)'s arid parks in the Northern Cape, said Bojone, Mr. Ellis and senior ranger Mico Ferreira were looking for the three remaining lions in the pride on the Botswana side close to the border between South Africa and Botswana. Bojone was on the back of the truck and the other two were in the cab. They chased two lions and then drove behind the one on the right. The next moment the other lion turned back and charged the truck. ‘The pickup fortunately had rails, which stopped the lion, but Bojone’s arm was caught. When the lion released the arm momentarily, Bojone leapt for the cab roof. The angry lion jumped into the load bin and fastened his jaws onto Bojone’s foot. Ellis jumped from the cab and pulled Bojone away, leaving both his boots in the lion’s jaw. One boot has four holes in it made by the lion’s teeth. Bojone was subsequently taken to Uppington’s Medi-Clinic where he spent yesterday in intensive care.Englebrecht said that the lions which the rangers called ‘bosleeus’ usually spend their time in areas where the public do not see them and are therefore not accustomed to people. The lion who attacked Bojone was probably angry/traumatised because of the earlier shooting of his companion.
According to Ms Englebrecht, when lions move from their normal range, rangers are sent to catch them. They are then returned to the Kglagadi and held in a boma for 14 days after which they are released about 200kmfrom where they were caught. Nardus du Plessis, the park’s former senior ranger, yesterday confirmed that there no one had been attacked by a lion in the 15 years that he was in the park. Bojone, who has worked in the park for 22 years, also said that in all his time there this had not happened. Englebrecht said that sometimes lions di approach too close to the vehicle whereupon a blanket is thrown over them which frightens them and they beat a hasty retreat. Yesterday the lion was covered by a blanket, but it burst out and went for Bojone. “He was infuriated” (she said)

Subsequent to this, Albert was moved to MediClinic hospital in Bloemfontein where, sadly, after a week of intensive treatment, his right hand was amputated at the wrist.

For details see HERE

As several 'mites have indicated that they would like to contribute something towards Albert's future well-being it has been decided to open a thread here for those who would like to do so.

NB Please do not make deposits into the previous VHR account; the banking details have been changed

The account details can no longer be posted on open forums, so if you wish to contribute, please post here and I will PM you with the relevant bank details.

One possibility that has been put forward, is that the money could be used for a prosthesis for Albert. (See threadabove for details)

Just a reminder to everyone donating to this project (and others )

It is of the utmost importance for you to give the correct reference code when making a deposit.
Please start off with VHR, that is our region. Then the project Albert, that is so that this blond treasurer knows where you want your deposit to go. Then your name (forum name is fine).
See this example: "VHR Albert JenB"

The H.R.'s now have a central account (hence the change of banking details) with transactions for all the the H.R. regions and hundreds of transactions go through every day. This would be a great help.

I'll be posting all donations received in this topic. Should your payment not reflect, please PM me with the banking details and reference code you used.

Thanx in advance.

-No donations so far-

There is something wrong with my internet banking. It keeps telling me it is an invalid bank account number. I have asked my SO to make the payment of our donation from his account last night, which worked perfectly. I have raised a query to my bank, but is still awaiting a response from them.

Thank you for going to the trouble Hilda, I'm sure I'll be receiving notification soon.

The following donations were received:

16/11 AlbertHilda R500
17/11 Albert Shaky Jakes R1000
15/11 from Vundla R150 (for Albert)

Total: R 1650.00

Many thanx!

Does this deposit belong to anyone?

Thank you so very much to those mites who have pledged/donated money for Albert Bojone, your readiness to do so and your generosity is heartwarming.

Should anyone else wish to help before the donation is finalised, please PM me or ask here for the banking details to be PMd as they may not be displayed on the open forum.

As we need to get the money to Albert could i request that all contributions be made by Friday 27th January 2012? Thanks.