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8 months ago
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THIS IS the terrifying moment a territorial male bull elephant charged at a safari truck filled with tourists.
The footage shows how the gigantic 11ft elephant attacks the bonnet of the truck with its trunk, again and again, in a bid to knock it over.
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IRSAThe safari truck, which was filled with tourists, is pushed onto its rear wheels by the force of the elephant and almost topples over before it thuds down – somehow upright.
The aggressive bull elephant begins the process again.
He takes a few steps backwards before charging at the tourists with all of its might once more.
A passenger on-board the truck also captured the incident, which shows the driver frantically trying to reverse the truck away from the charging elephant.
It also becomes clear that the only thing separating the driver and the ferocious animal is the truck’s glass windscreen.
The footage, which has since been posted to social media, has seen a wealth of criticism directed at the driver.
Some YouTube users have speculated that the safari group must have gotten too close to the wild animal, while others have said the elephant must have felt threatened.
However, one social media user claimed that they had seen a video that revealed more about the situation.
The user wrote: “Unfortunately the video only shows the end of the story and not the complete story.
“The elephant entered the car park whilst guests were both on foot in the open and on the walkway to the hide.
“The guide sat there quietly with his engine off until the elephant started to approach the vehicle.
“The elephant didn’t back off and kept coming closer, not responding to warning shouts and door slamming and slapping as they normally will.”
The user went on to claim that the guide only turned on the engine and revved the truck in a desperate attempt to protect himself and those on the safari.
They added: “I hope the full video is released because I am sure you will all feel some compassion towards the guide and how absolutely terrified he must have been, whilst taking actions to protect others in a very difficult situation.
“I have no doubt that the guide and guests have been traumatised by this event and I beg for your understanding until you too have seen the full video. It makes so much more sense.”
This is not the first time a tourist vehicle has been attacked by a testosterone-fuelled male bull elephant.
Footage from November 2021 showed the moment a 13ft tall elephant charged at tourists that had come too close to his herd.
Although both trucks stopped on a dirt road, it appears as though this was a little too close for the bull elephant’s liking – who becomes angry and charges at the first vehicle.
The guide had no choice but to jump out of his seat, as the elephant’s tusks sliced through the bodywork of the safari truck.
The elephant then lifted the 11-seater vehicle off the ground and pushes it off the road.
Bull elephants, when they are ready to breed, see their testosterone levels multiplying by up to 60 times.
The become sexually aggressive and highly violent towards humans and they secrete a tar like discharge on the side of their heads which warns of their sexual arousal.
Back in 2017, a British tourist was also subjected to a rampaging elephant who chased her for over a mile.
Footage taken at the time showed the enormous animal flapping its ears and running behind the safari Jeep, while the woman can be heard screaming at her driver.
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English (US)