A herd of elephants has attacked a group of park employees in South Africa, trampling one to death and seriously injuring another.

SanParks said on Friday that the incident occurred on Thursday afternoon near a camp in the Kruger National Park.

The parks service says police and medics were called to the scene and an investigation is underway.

There have been occasional reports in some countries of villagers being killed or injured by elephants, which are heavily poached for their ivory and sometimes attacked by villagers who want to protect their crops.

Kruger Park has seen a few instances of elephants charging cars that get too close. In at least one case, an elephant stamped on a vehicle and caused injuries. News24.com

Photo: Elephant attacks man in India