Giraffe suspected of killing tourist

A rogue giraffe is high on the list of suspects

A "rogue giraffe" is at the top of the list of suspects as Kenyan police investigate the death of an American tourist at the luxurious Aberdare Country Club north of Nairobi.

The body of 50 year old James Gregory was found in the game sanctuary at the country club, the Daily Nation reported on Tuesday.

He had walked into the sanctuary alone on Sunday morning and his body was discovered about three hours later.

Robbery not a motive

The Kenyan police are investigating the death.

Mr Gregory died after receiving wounds to the forehead and behind one ear, senior assistant police commissioner Peter Kimanthi told the BBC News Online.

A rogue giraffe is known to be in the area

Assistant police commissioner Peter Kimanthi

The death is suspicious, says Mr Kimanthi, but it is not thought to have been carried out by a human.

Mr Gregory had not been robbed and his pockets contained both Kenyan and US currency.

The police say speculation is that a giraffe might have killed the tourist.

Peter Kimanthi said that a "rogue giraffe" was known to be in the area and local feeling was that the animal could have been responsible.

Giraffes kill lions

A giraffe is capable of killing a man but attacks are very rare. The animals are between 2.5 and 3.3 metres tall and can weight up to almost 2000 kg.

Suspect or innocent bystander

Found in savannah or lightly forested areas of Africa south of the Sahara, they eat leaves or other vegetation.

They defend themselves against predators like lions or hyenas by kicking out with their large hoofs. Giraffes have been known to kill lions in self-defence.

Although rare, it was not unheard of for giraffes to attack humans, according to James Drysdale, duty manager at the Aberdare Country Club.

He added that a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger had been killed by a giraffe a few years ago.