A New Jersey man, whose wife died in an horrific hippopotamus assault last year while on safari in Africa, is suing the U.S. firm that organized the trip. He claims the company failed to ensure the safety of the couple and did not properly screen and supervise tour guides.
According to the lawsuit, Craig and Lisa Manders, who live in Greenwich in Connecticut, were on a guided tour in Zambia when, in June, a hippo jumped out of the water and grabbed Lisa Manders with its mouth, crushing her head and body. The company denies all allegations in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in Stamford on February 5, Connecticut. It alleges that while a horrified Craig Manders watched, tour guides, including one with a rifle, walked away and did not help the couple. Lisa Manders died soon after suffering catastrophic injuries, according to the lawsuit.
Paul Slager and Nicole Coates, a law partner who represent Craig Manders, said, “This should never have happened.” There are safety standards for businesses, including those in the safari tour business. “These basic safety standards were not adhered to, and the results were devastating.”
Slager stated that the lawsuit is seeking monetary damages, which have yet to be determined, and accountability for Lisa Manders death. It also seeks to keep others safe in future. Craig Manders, he said, was not available for interviews.
Slager explained that the Manders from Cranford, New Jersey were on an anniversary trip. It was also their first visit to Africa. Lisa Manders, who worked in finance for more than 40 years, loved to cook, travel and visit New York City where she was originally born in Queens, in 1953. According to her obituary , Lisa enjoyed traveling, cooking and visiting New York City. The couple had three daughters and a granddaughter.
African Portfolio received messages via email and phone.
Rodney Gould said that the company was not negligent in relation to Lisa Manders death. He claimed that African Portfolio arranged only the couple’s accommodation, and the Chiawa Safaris owners in Zambia provided the tour guides.
It’s a terrible tragedy when someone is hurt or killed on one of these excursions. Gould described the situation as “horrible”. “It’s important that we understand the role of African Portfolio in this.” It is a tour operator. It organizes trips. It puts the pieces together.”
“My client did not conduct the safari,” he added. It organised it. It booked all components.”
Gould said that the company did not neglect to thoroughly vet Chiawa because of its excellent reputation. He said African Portfolio would either ask the judge to dismiss this lawsuit or request arbitration. This was a requirement of the agreement that the Manders had signed.
Chiawa’s attorney and Chiawa received emails.
The lawsuit, in which Chiawa is not named, claims that African safaris can be “inherently dangerous” due to the unpredictable and sometimes aggressive nature of wild animal species. They require careful planning and implementation to complete safely. The lawsuit claims that African Portfolio has vetted, supervised and certified the tour guides to ensure their competence and safety.
In the suit, African Portfolio is accused of “encouraging and/or permitting” the Manders’ exposure to an “unavoidable and extremely dangerous encounter with a dangerous Hippopotamus (in the Zambian wilderness). The suit also accuses African Portfolio of failing to maintain safe conditions for the walk in the wilderness and failing to ensure the tour guides had been adequately selected, screened and trained.
The suit also alleges that African Portfolio failed to take adequate measures to protect the Manders both before and during an attack.
According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, hippos are second largest land mammals in the world after elephants. They measure about 11 feet and 5 feet high. Average male hippo weights around 7,000 pounds.
Hippos can be aggressive and territorial at times. Seven people died in Malawi, a southern African country, a year before Lisa Manders’ death. A hippo charged at a canoe on a river and capsized the boat. Hippos are believed to kill between 500 and 2,000 people each year, depending on the estimate.
In Kenya, a Chinese tourist and local fisherman died in separate hippo attacks on the same day.
The lawsuit claims that Lisa Manders experienced “significant premorbid fears and emotional pain, suffering, and mental anguish”, before her death. The suit claims that Craig Manders has suffered debilitating psychological and emotional injuries which have made it hard for him to cope in daily life.
The lawsuit seeks damages for negligence and recklessness.
Slager stated that “he’s suing for both the loss of his spouse and the impact it has on him and his own life.” Slager said that he has also filed a claim because he witnessed the attack and what happened to his wife. This is unimaginable. It’s unimaginable.”
Two American women were killed by elephants last year in Zambia. Officials said that in June 2024, they expect to see the elephants.
Juliana Gle Tourneau of New Mexico was killed by an elephant in Livingstone, Zambia, when it attacked the vehicle of tourists who were watching the herd.
Gail Mattson was a 79 year old Minnesotan who died in March 2024 while on a game drive at Kafue National Park in Zambia . An elephant flipped a truck over and killed the American tourist.
