Giraffe suspected of part in mysterious death
Matthew Kruk
Giraffe suspected of part in mysterious death
Teneshia Naidoo Published:Oct 13, 2008
AN AGGRESSIVE giraffe is a suspect in the unexplained death of a
Pietermaritzburg pensioner earlier this year.
Schalk Hagen, 70, died in March from head injuries and brain damage.
His wife, Aletha Hagen, 66, of Bisley in Pietermaritzburg, believes that her
husband - who was disoriented and unable to explain his injuries before his
death - was attacked by a bull giraffe at a nearby nature reserve.
This week, she convinced Pietermaritzburg police to look for the spot at the
Bisley Nature Reserve where she believes her husband was kicked or
head-butted by the giraffe, to try to find forensic evidence linked to his
death.
She said that, while she had accepted her husband's death, she strongly
believed the animal was responsible after discovering other people had been
charged by giraffes at the reserve.
Hagen said her husband had loved to walk through the reserve. A few days
before his death, she had found him with blood on his head and face.
"I asked him what had happened and all he said was he ran away," she said.
"A doctor told me that he had massive brain damage. Schalk was very quiet,
he was a bit dazed."
Schalk Hagen died a few days later in a Durban hospital.
His wife said that a few months prior to his death, he had encountered a
hostile giraffe while walking with his teenage granddaughter. Other
residents had subsequently come forward with claims of giraffe attacks.
"All I want is for the park to put up signs warning people that something
might happen if they walk around. I don't want anything to happen to the
animal and neither would my husband. He loved nature and wildlife," she
said.
Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Henry Budhram said the police would
investigate.
Msunduzi Municipality conservation manager Rodney Bartholomew is baffled by
the allegations, saying that no one has complained about giraffe attacks
before.
Bartholomew said there was no evidence that Hagen was even in the reserve
when he was injured, let alone attacked by a giraffe.