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Elephant charge African bush elephant,Botswana,Geotagged,Loxodonta africana,Winter Click/tap to enlarge

Elephant charge

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    comments (3)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Story time? Posted 7 years ago
    1. View Eric_S's profile
      Eric_S
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      Definitely! Our guide drove us along the Limpopo river and we came across a herd of elephants that were on either side of the road. This one male elephant seemed a little agitated and he ran in front of our car and crossed the road. He circled around an acacia bush and stared at us with his ears flapping. Out of nowhere he mock charged us and stopped 5 feet away. He then stared at us and put his trunk in the air as if he was giving us the middle finger and then walked away Posted 7 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
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        I totally know that feeling:

        Sri Lanka Elephant attack - charge two Those that have read our travel report from Sri Lanka have read how we were attacked by a large male bull whilst in a jeep in Wasgamuwa. It was a full force head-on charge, that went very quickly, yet gave us the time enough to consider it could be our last moment. Luckily, the bull stopped only 1m in front of our jeep, due to 2 guides in the jeep distracting the elephant with hand signals and lots of shouting. <br /> <br /> As the attack took us of guard, we have no pictures of it. Surprising enough, a 2nd attack followed whilst we were still recovering from the 1st. This time I did snap a few, so hereby I'll share some.<br /> <br /> This is the 2nd charge in full action, several tons of animal speeding towards us over a very short distance of about 20m. Having been through this experience just minutes before, this time I managed to snap this one, meanwhile hoping that it would end just like the 1st attack: with the male backing of at the last moment. I was as scared as during the 1st attack, but figured I could not control my faith anyway, so I might as well shoot a few. <br /> <br /> Where I normally cannot tell one elephant from the other, I have no problem recognizing this one. It's edged in my memory forever. I recognize it from the wart above its left eye (right on the photo).<br /> <br /> Note that I do not share this to glorify the experience. We felt very bad about both incidents and have no intention to provoke animals. I'm documenting this to share a lesson learned, to show warning signs, to recognize behavior and better yet, to prevent it altogether by observing from further away (tell your driver). <br /> <br /> Looking back at the sequence....<br /> <br /> Right after the first attack:<br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26398/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_the_calm_mother_and_her_baby.html<br /> The male, annoyed that we are still too close, gives a first warning:<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26404/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_the_warning_step.html<br /> The male deciding whether to attack again:<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26405/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_deciding.html<br /> The male, giving a last warning:<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26406/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_final_warning.html<br /> Silence before the storm:<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26399/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_introducing_the_bull_male.html<br /> Full charge:<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26401/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_charge_two.html<br /> Happy ending:<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/26407/sri_lanka_elephant_attack_-_happy_ending.html Asia,Elephas maximus maximus,Sri Lanka,Sri Lankan elephant,Wasgamuwa
         Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago

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The African bush elephant

The African bush elephant is the larger of the two species of African elephant. Both it and the African forest elephant have usually been classified as a single species, known simply as the African elephant, but recent evidence has seen the forest elephant classified as a distinct species . Some authorities still consider the currently available evidence as insufficient for splitting African elephants into two species.

Info 236 6
Similar species: Elephants
Species identified by Eric_S
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By Eric_S

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Uploaded Sep 27, 2017. Captured Aug 5, 2017 10:08 in Transit Rd, Botswana.
country flag of Botswana Explore Botswana 243 105 0
  • NIKON D7100
  • f/4.5
  • 1/250s
  • ISO400
  • 70mm
Captured in the winter. More winter photos.