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NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
Multi-Millionaire CEO, 39, Trampled To Death By Elephant At South African Game Reserve
In a tragic incident, the multi-millionaire owner of one of South Africa's top game reserves was trampled to death by a charging elephant. According to The Daily Mail, the incident happened at 8 am on July 22 at Gondwana Private Game Reserve, when FC Conradie was attempting to guide a group of elephants away from the tourist lodges. However, the task went wrong when the six-ton bull turned on him. The elephant reportedly gored Mr Conradie with its tusks and trampled him multiple times, leaving nearby rangers powerless to save him despite their best efforts. FC Conradie, who also owned the Caylix Group sports management company, was described by staff as having a deep passion for elephants and nature, often venturing out to photograph them. He had honours degrees in zoology, animal studies, commerce and marketing, and was known as an "ambitious entrepreneur and passionate about nature". A senior source at Gondwana said, "Because he is the boss man, everybody has been warned to say absolutely nothing or they will be out the same day, it is a big clamp down. FC was a great guy to work for, and he loved his elephants, which were his favourite, and he felt he had a trust with them, but you have to never forget they may live in a reserve but are wild. He will be greatly missed by all here." Gondwana Game Reserve paid tribute to Mr Conradie, describing him as a cherished leader, devoted husband, and father of three. "FC was more than a leader – he was a mentor, a visionary, and a truly remarkable individual," the reserve stated, and requested privacy and space for the family during this challenging period. The team also appealed for the public to avoid speculation as the investigation into the incident continues. It is not yet known whether guests at the Big 5 reserve, home to lions, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, and Africa's southernmost elephant herd, witnessed the violent attack Gondwana Private Game Reserve, a luxurious five-star safari lodge near Mossel Bay along the renowned Garden Route, is a popular destination for celebrities and tourists seeking Big Five experiences. With rates of nearly 900 pounds per couple per night, the reserve was fully booked during the incident. Notably, this is the second fatal elephant attack at the reserve in just over a year. In March 2023, David Kandela, a 36-year-old married father and staff member, was killed while guiding a herd through the Eco Tent Lodge area. Mr Kandela was gored, dragged into the bush, and dismembered by elephants, including a former circus elephant named Bonnie. Mr Conradie's death has sparked debate about safety protocols in game reserves, highlighting the risks that come with working around wild animals. Experts suggest that even seasoned professionals like Mr Conradie need to exercise extreme caution when interacting with elephants, which can be unpredictable despite their calm nature.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
South African Game Reserve Owner, Multi-Millionaire CEO Trampled To Death By Elephant
Last Updated: FC Conradie, owner of Gondwana Private Game Reserve, was trampled to death by an elephant while guiding them away from tourist lodges. In a tragic incident, the multi-millionaire, FC Conradie, owner of one of South Africa's top game reserves, was trampled to death by a charging elephant. According to The Daily Mail, the incident occurred when Conradie was attempting to guide a group of elephants away from the tourist lodges at 8 am on July 22 at Gondwana Private Game Reserve. However, the task went wrong when the six-ton bull turned on him. The elephant reportedly gored Conradie with its tusks and trampled him multiple times, leaving nearby rangers powerless to save him despite their best efforts. Conradie's staff said that he had a deep passion for elephants and nature, often venturing out to photograph them. Conradie also owned the Caylix Group sports management company. He had honours degrees in zoology, animal studies, commerce and marketing, and was known as an 'ambitious entrepreneur and passionate about nature", NDTV reported. 'Because he is the boss man, everybody has been warned to say absolutely nothing, or they will be out the same day. It is a big clampdown. FC was a great guy to work for, and he loved his elephants, which were his favourite, and he felt he had a trust with them, but you have to never forget they may live in a reserve but are wild. He will be greatly missed by all here," NDTV quoted a senior source at Gondwana as saying. The Gondwana Game Reserve honoured Conradie's memory, describing him as a beloved leader, devoted husband, and father of three. They praised him as 'more than a leader – a mentor, visionary, and remarkable individual." The reserve requested privacy for the family during this difficult time and asked the public to refrain from speculation while the investigation is ongoing. It is not yet known whether guests at the Big 5 reserve, home to lions, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, and Africa's southernmost elephant herd, witnessed the violent attack The luxurious Gondwana Private Game Reserve, a 5-star safari lodge near Mossel Bay on the Garden Route, attracts celebrities and tourists seeking Big Five experiences. With nightly rates of around 900 pounds per couple, the reserve was fully booked when the incident occurred. This incident marks the second fatal elephant attack at the reserve in just over a year. In March 2023, 36-year-old staff member David Kandela was killed by elephants while guiding a herd through the Eco Tent Lodge area. Kandela was gored, dragged into the bush, and dismembered by elephants, including a former circus elephant named Bonnie. Conradie's death has sparked debate about safety protocols in game reserves, highlighting the risks that come with working around wild animals. According to the experts, even seasoned professionals like Conradie need to exercise extreme caution when interacting with elephants, which can be unpredictable despite their calm nature, NDTV reported. view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 13:01 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Multi-millionaire CEO, 39, trampled to death by elephant at luxury safari in South Africa
A tragic incident unfolded at one of South Africa's most luxurious game reserves as FC Conradie, the multi-millionaire co-owner of Gondwana Private Game Reserve, was killed by a charging elephant. The 39-year-old conservationist was attempting to guide a group of elephants.(Instagram/@fcconradie) The 39-year-old conservationist was attempting to guide a group of elephants away from the tourist lodges when a massive bull turned on him, leading to a fatal mauling, Daily Mail reported. The deadly encounter occurred as Conradie, a well-known figure in South African eco-tourism, tried to move the elephants out of a populated area. The six-ton bull reportedly gored him with its tusks and trampled him multiple times. Despite the efforts of nearby rangers, nothing could be done to save him. (Also read: From ₹5,000 salary to ₹46 LPA: 35-year-old Bengaluru man's 'inspiring' journey goes viral) Gondwana Private Game Reserve, a five-star safari destination near Mossel Bay on the famed Garden Route, is known for hosting celebrities and tourists seeking Big Five encounters. The lodge, which charges nearly £900 per couple per night, was reportedly full at the time of the incident. It remains unclear whether any guests witnessed the violent attack, the report further added. This marks the second fatal elephant encounter at the 27,000-acre reserve in just over a year. In March 2023, 36-year-old David Kandela, a married father of one and staff member, was fatally attacked while guiding a herd through the Eco Tent Lodge area. Kandela was gored, dragged into the bush, and dismembered by elephants, including a former circus elephant named Bonnie. More about FC Conradie FC Conradie was also the head of the Caylix Group sports management company. Described by staff as deeply passionate about wildlife, particularly elephants, he was often seen photographing the animals he loved most, Daily Mail reported. His wife of 10 years, 33-year-old La-ida, and their three sons, aged 6, 11, and 12, were left devastated by the news. The family lives in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, where La-ida works at global financial firm Moore Stephens. (Also Read: Couple performs sex act in front of children on Florida-bound flight, arrested)
