If you need to prove the strength of a full grown elephant – this is it! This safari jeep, whose passengers luckily escaped, teaches us that wildlife should always be respected.
Elephant Attacks Safari Jeep
It’s just a short film, but it contains a lot of action. The footage begins with the jeep driving towards a group of large statues, which appear to be yelling warnings and appear disturbed. Suddenly, a large adult elephant appeared on the left side of the truck. Without hesitation, the elephant lowered its head and pushed its forehead against the side of the truck. Even though it’s a pretty big truck, the elephant has no trouble driving it off the road, and the footage gets messed up as the guy operating the camera tries to stay inside the truck instead of falling off!
The camera then cuts to a few minutes later, before people in a truck film the footage. The elephant was still visible on the other side of the now badly damaged truck, but passengers were leaving and fleeing to safety. At the same time, the elephant clearly sensed that the threat had passed and was walking away.
©Johan W. Elzenga/Shutterstock.com
Elephant aggressive behavior
Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They are found in parts of Africa and Asia and are herbivores, eating mainly grass, roots and fruit. They can weigh up to 12,000 lbs.
Behaviorally speaking, elephants are complex. They are very intelligent and people think they have self-awareness and self-knowledge. Research also suggests they may be able to use tools, remember things, and even mourn dead elephants.
These are peaceful animals and will not pick fights unless absolutely necessary. However, female elephants can become extremely aggressive to protect their young, while male elephants can be aggressive to show their dominance. Once a year, male elephants go through a stage called musth, when an increase in their hormones causes them to be more confrontational. It is at this time that males are more likely to attack humans, and even fatal incidents have occurred.
Aggression in males is often indicated by mock charging. In females, the elephants usually scatter first, then flap their ears while staring at the threat. She may also lift her head and torso, wiggle her feet, or snap off branches. be warned!
Next:
Watch elephant stampede reunite with families of their favorites
Watch elephants fight crocodiles to the death
Watch desperate tiger challenge adult elephant
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
