"Wild animals will always remain wild," said National Parks vet Dr David Zimmerman after a Canadian tourist was attacked by a "tame" warthog on a game farm in the Eastern Cape.

Brunhilde Galka, 69, was attacked just three days after her arrival in South Africa.

The attack took place almost two weeks ago, but Brunhilde was still recovering in Life St Dominic's Hospital in East London.

She was in a stable condition after having more than 100 stitches.

Her husband, Erhard, 70, said: "She's still recovering, but we just want to go home now."

It did not seem as if this would be possible in the near future, however.

Brunhilde underwent procedures on Monday during which drainage tubes were put in her left arm, left leg and her chest.

"They'll be removed only in two weeks," said Erhard.

The Galkas arrived in South Africa on April 24 from Ontario and began their holiday at Huntershill Safaris near Queenstown.

They saw a "tame" warthog inside the buildings at Huntershill, but Erhard began worrying about the animal after it apparently had attacked a waiter.

According to a manager at Huntershill, who asked to remain anonymous, the waiter allegedly had kicked the animal after it knocked over a rubbish bin in the bar.

Legs and chest ripped open

"Like any animal would, the warthog defended itself," said the manager.

Shortly after this attack, the warthog attacked Brunhilde.

Eberhard said: "She was lying in her own blood on the path to our room. Her legs and chest had been ripped open. It was gruesome."

Brunhilde was admitted to Queenstown's Frontier Hospital where she received a blood transfusion and her wounds were cleaned.

She was transferred later to Life St Dominic's Hospital.

The manager said the warthog was killed on the night of the attack.

Zimmerman said that wild animals, particularly males in rut, were sometimes aggressive and hormone driven. "That may have caused the attack."