It starts with a buffalo sitting peacefully on the ground. Sensing danger, it gets up and quickly starts to move away. The elephant approaches much faster and catches up to the buffalo. Dropping its head, the elephant runs right into the buffalo and tosses it to the ground. The elephant’s tusks are front and center as it comes in even closer. The elephant is at least twice as tall as the buffalo and it doesn’t take long before the buffalo is flat on the ground. The elephant continues to toss the buffalo around. It uses its tusks, trunk, and sheer size to move the buffalo on the ground. Letting out a few sounds, the elephant is triumphant in its kill. The buffalo isn’t moving anymore. The two people recording the video react in shock as they witness the circle of life in nature firsthand. “That’s the end of that buffalo,” the man off-camera says. Wisely, neither person approaches the elephant or buffalo. Instead, they document the encounter but keep their distance. It is never a good idea to approach an animal in the wild, especially when they are acting aggressively toward other animals. The elephant backs away from its kill once it knows it was victorious.
Unusual Elephant Behavior
While elephants don’t normally charge other animals, especially when they are not threatening, it still happens. It is possible that the elephant acted to protect nearby calves or they did not want to share access to resources like water. It is unclear from the video whether this elephant was a male, a bull elephant, a female, or a cow elephant. Bull elephants can be more aggressive when they are trying to show their dominance during the mating season. That is one explanation for this elephant’s behavior. After shooting the video, the onlookers did not stay to see more of the elephant. They remained a safe distance away and shared the footage of their unique encounter in the wild.
Next Up…
Types of Elephants: The 3 Species of ElephantsHairy Elephants: What is the Purpose of Elephant Hair?Elephant Gestation Period: How Long are Elephants Pregnant?
