Gretchen Ho, muntik malagay sa panganib ang buhay sa kanyang South Africa trip
- Gretchen Ho shared a heart-stopping encounter with a spotted hyena during a safari in South Africa
- Their safari guide explained that the hyena was drawn to the cooler containing food
- The animal eventually walked away after carefully observing the group from a distance
- Gretchen reminded travelers that staying calm and never running is crucial during wildlife encounters
MAKI-TINGIN KA NAMAN: Pwede ka nang mag-comment sa mga artikulo ng KAMI! Subukan mo, madali lang!
Former TV5 news presenter Gretchen Ho experienced a frightening wildlife encounter during her recent trip to South Africa after a spotted hyena came dangerously close while she and her companions were enjoying sundowner drinks at Timbavati Game Reserve.
Source: Facebook
The television personality documented the tense moment on social media, where she uploaded a longer video showing how near the wild animal had gotten to their group. Despite the potentially dangerous situation, Gretchen remained composed while filming the encounter before moving closer to the safari vehicle as a precaution.
Sharing details of the incident, Gretchen explained the reputation of spotted hyenas as powerful predators.
“MAN vs HYENA. Here’s a longer video of our heartstopping encounter with a Spotted Hyena whilst having our sundowner drinks late in the afternoon.”
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!
She also described why the animal is considered one of Africa's most formidable carnivores.
“Spotted Hyenas are known for having powerful jaws and chomping down on their prey in a feeding frenzy. They can crush and digest bones, as opposed to lions that eat internal organs and muscle tissue, leaving bones behind for scavengers like Hyenas.”
As the hyena continued approaching, Gretchen said she was already preparing to climb onto their safari vehicle while still calmly recording the scene. According to her, their guide, Brett, immediately assessed the situation after noticing what had attracted the animal.
“The lone Spotted Hyena was studying us carefully, trying to smell and look for signs of vulnerability. But our tracker Oscar looked the Hyena in the eye, as he stood tall. And slowly, the Hyena walked away.”
The guide later explained that the hyena likely had no intention of attacking a large group of adults but was instead interested in the cooler that contained their food. Gretchen also shared another important detail that underscored how different the situation could have been under other circumstances.
“Brett [our guide] told us the Hyena wouldn’t be foolish enough to charge 8 fully grown humans. Had we been with a young child, though, that kid might have been attacked.”
Because of incidents like this, Gretchen said Timbavati Game Reserve strictly implements minimum age requirements for game drives and open bush walks to ensure guests' safety.
Ending her post with a practical reminder, Gretchen emphasized that remaining calm is one of the most important survival rules during close encounters with wild animals. She stressed that visitors should never run, as panic could worsen an already dangerous situation.
Gretchen Ho is a prominent Filipino broadcast journalist, television presenter, and former professional volleyball player who rose to fame as part of the Ateneo Lady Eagles. She currently anchors major news and current affairs programs, and she produces and hosts the award-winning travel documentary series Woman In Action.
In another report, Gretchen Ho voiced her disappointment over Ateneo de Manila University's response following the deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia during a team-building activity in Aurora. The broadcaster questioned the school's handling of the situation and urged it to show greater compassion toward the grieving families. Her remarks resonated with several Ateneo alumni and netizens, many of whom also expressed concern over the university's official statement.
Meanwhile, Gretchen Ho shared that the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili deeply affected her as a former Ateneo athlete. She mourned the tragic loss while calling for the ongoing investigation to uncover the truth and ensure accountability. Ho emphasized that remaining silent could give rise to speculation and misinformation as the public searches for answers. Despite the heartbreaking incident, she expressed confidence that Ateneo and the authorities involved would take the proper steps to address the case.
Bagong feature: Tingnan ang mga balitang para sa'yo ➡️ hanapin ang "Recommended for you" block at mag-enjoy!
Source: KAMI.com.gh
