In a heart-wrenching incident, Francois Christiaan Conradie, 39-year-old multi-millionaire and CEO of Gondwana Private Game Reserve in South Africa, was trampled to death by a bull elephant on July 22 while trying to guide a herd away from tourist lodges. The attack occurred around 8 am at the five-star safari retreat near Mossel Bay, renowned for celebrity visits and Big Five sightings.
According to The Daily Mail, the six-ton elephant gored and trampled Mr Conradie repeatedly. Rangers on site were unable to intervene in time. The reserve, which charges close to £900 per couple per night, was fully booked at the time of the tragedy.
Conradie, who also ran Caylix Group, was known for his passion for wildlife, particularly elephants. He held honours degrees in zoology, animal studies, commerce, and marketing, and was regarded as a visionary entrepreneur and a devoted family man with three children.
A senior source revealed that staff have been instructed to remain silent about the incident. “FC truly believed he had a bond with the elephants, but in the end, nature reminded us it cannot be tamed,” the source said.
The reserve paid tribute, calling him a “mentor, leader, and cherished human being,” and requested privacy for his grieving family.
Notably, this is the second fatal elephant encounter at Gondwana in just over a year. In March 2023, a staff member was similarly gored and killed. The latest tragedy has reignited discussions around safety protocols in high-risk wildlife tourism.