THE condition of a game ranger who was attacked by a bull elephant at the Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve near East London remained a mystery yesterday as the hospital refused to comment on the matter.

The ranger, aged 26, was attacked on Friday afternoon and was taken to East London’s St Dominic’s Hospital where he was admitted to the trauma unit.

St Dominic’s spokesman Ailsa Thorpe said the hospital was not in a position to give comment about the patient. She would not confirm whether the patient was in a stable or in a serious condition.

However, an Alderson Ambulance spokesman said on Friday that the victim had suffered broken ribs, collapsed lungs and a broken shoulder.

Contacted yesterday for comment, Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve owner Graham Stanton refused to speak about it.

This followed the publication of a report on the incident on Saturday. He had earlier said he would make a statement that morning, but then felt that he had been let down by the media.

At this stage it remains unclear whether the elephant that attacked the ranger was wild or tame.

In 2006, Stanton and his brother Keith bought four wild elephant that had been tamed, rather than taking elephant from other game reserves.

In November that year, the reserve took ownership of two trained young elephant bulls named Ramadipa and Mooketsi.

However, it is not known whether these animals were involved in the attack or just how many elephants there are at Inkwenkwezi. – Daily Dispatch