An elephant-bull in musth is without a single doubt the most dangerous living thing you could imagine. The guide shouldn't have let the vehicle gets so close, or these might people might as well be dead...
Poachers and wealthy foreign hunters are the most dangerous thing you can imagine. These animals are all lucky to be alive given their dwindling habitat and genetic pool - and commercial exploitation by reckless Safari companies.
If provoked, sure-but they're still very gentle, intelligent beings, as this one shows with its restraint. I'll take that particular elephant over a startled hippo.
@@mediablindspots Lol it doesn't matter how gentle or intelligent that elephant is, when a bull is in musth they become hyper aggressive death machines that have been known to kill without provocation or reason. Keepers have been killed by elephants they have known for years because they were careless around the animals when they were in this state.
He was at the end of his musth season. You can see it oozed out of his right temple. If he was in the middle of his musth he wouldve toppled the bus and gored everyone to death.
@@matthewowens455 That doesn't matter to them when they're on musth, because I believe it's hard for them to think that logically with the high levels of testosterone.
Human beings have only their human wits to survive in a world where they would otherwise stand little chance of propagation. This is what has enabled us to sojourn throughout all terrains.
Having worked with elephants, I can say with confidence that a Bull elephant in season (especially an African) is dangerous and unpredictable. This elephant didn't see the people as a threat to himself or his females so it turned out well.
Sandra Watts, what children has to do with it? Or from what age it's ok to taking chances like that? And why guide life is suddenly less valuable then a child?
I think he couldn't really drive away because there was another safari vehicle in the front and it's blocking the road. And it looked like it had no people on it. I'm not 100% sure though..
Seemed to me like the elephant had a really strong reaction to hearing that girl get so frightened. You could see its attention was immediately drawn to her after her initial exclamation, and then, as if he didn't want to cause any more ruckus, peaced out. Or, he was just frightened from the sound, and made a hasty retreat.
@@KanekiKen-mu4nu Of course she was scared, she was a small child. If she did get them killed bc of her crying, it would be the adults fault for having her out there in the first place!
Y'know, if you look at this from a neutral standpoint, driving up close to a wild, agitated 7 tonne animal just for a photo seems like a very dumb thing to do. One of the many reasons I'd never go on a safari.
Well that just seems reckless. Bull elephant self-evidently in Musth and the driver lets it get that close? I have to say that's probably the most passive Elephant in musth I've ever seen, most in that situation would have just crushed the vehicle, and people crouching down in their seats would be no defence, these people got lucky that the one elephant whose curiosity overcame his hormones. And it is particularly foolhardy when the vehicle contains silly people who squeal at exactly the point when they should be most quiet. The way some of these tourists behave makes me wonder if they ever bother to do just a little research about the fauna and flora of their holiday destination. And how to operate a damn camera. * Edited to accommodate those offended by the phrase _"silly girls"_
NoneOfYour Beeswax uneducated people need to learn about animals and their behavior paterns before going to places around the world dealing with wildlife especially africa...those guides need their ignorant asses whipped for having their scared asses out there in the first place.
I may be being overly cyncial, but I feel that very few of these tourists actually care about the places they're going, sadly. It's all about taking pictures of yourself with cool animals in exotic locations at extravagant destinations, not to enjoy the experience - no, that would be foolish - but to impress everyone else. I feel like a number of these tourists think they're going to some glorified petting zoo of some sort and are completely baffled and lose their minds when they realize "holy crap, these are all completely wild animals who could potentially kill me if not for the safety of this jeep." They strike me as the type of people who can't even handle hiking in their own backyards without dousing themselves in bug spray or the type who become emotionally scarred when they accidentally step knee-deep into some mud. (Obviously this isn't every tourist, but let's be honest, there are definitely tourists like this out there.)
One of the first things he did after he took attention to the truck was raise his trunk to smell out what he was dealing with, it appeared that he was analyzing the situation and deciding what to do when the high pitch screaming and children panicking made his mind up very quickly, and suddenly he starts to distance himself. I guess he decided this was not a dangerous situation, maybe he thought they were sleeping. Anyway, interesting encounter could have been very bad.
Andrey Shelekhov. Google.size comparisons of africans elephants to the size of Mammoths/ Mastodons . The.eary period of EPOC ERA ( 1,000,000 YAG) DINOTHERIUM. The first of the pacedurm species. Tusk jut out from lower.jaw.
Mind you he's also in musth (you can tell by the temporin stains on his cheeks) so he's got a terrible headache and 100x the normal amount of testosterone in his system, he's not exactly thinking normally.
And the award goes to "The Cameraman" who filmed this video even after finding himself in the most terrifying (I would use the word "the most traumatic") situation. I have watched many many videos where cameramen sitting in their comfort zone but still cameras are shaky and blurry but this man truly deserves a word of appreciation. Good job brother!!! Just because of your guts and balls, we could enjoy this encounter. Ha Ha !!! I would never want you to get into this situation again but if you fell, make sure you got the same guts again to film the video. Lol!!!
Right! I assume he was the guy warning other passengers to "put their head down, don't do that", etc. He was putting the others out of whatever avoidable danger zone they were in, at his own heightened risk. It does sound like this guy knew what he was doing.
Fire the crap out of the Guide.... he is not a guide but a threat to visitors.... thank God the elephant showed mercy otherwise it could be a mass casualty..
I was hoping that the visitors would be killed. If an elephant invades a humans home it would be killed, so what gives humans the right to invade an an elephants home?
"Elephants home" elephants aren't sedentary like humans and don't have a single place they stay in like us so unless you count the whole country they reside in or that section of Africa this comment is very ignorant
I can only imagine that when this elephant was young, it was taught by its mother that the weird looking bald apes are mainly a danger when they are on foot, as that means they're confidently carrying a weapon.....when they are in a vehicle, they only want to look and take pictures! The poor elephant never forgot this, and so was very confused when he saw them driving off. He followed and stepped forward to have his moment in the spotlight, only to find everyone seemingly uninterested with his presence. He even checked the second vehicle to see if there was a requirement for him, but alas.....
AlexKx The liquid dripping from those two glands, one beside each eye, only male elephants go into musth. It's a condition that indicates they're ready to mate. It also makes them to temporarily insane because of the irritation.
This is the most amazing video ever seen! This should've went viral long time ago! Even this elephant was raising up his trunk to smell out what he's dealing with, then soon as he gets close to them, he changed his mind after he heard the scream. Then later, he came back to them, after that, in the end, he walks away.
That's an interesting story. Lots of takeaways from this episode. A magnificent bull in the midst of musth turning out to be more inquisitive and sedate than being the norm. Ultimately, he too is a family man! I strongly condemn the guide for getting into such a dangerous situation. Thank God, the bull was so kind even to the unsolicited. The tourists also have my appreciation, esp the kids, for being composed throughout, and, finally, the cameraman, you are a super pro!
Why are you all blaming a wild animal for acting normal. You should blame the guides who endangered those tourist lives..very unprofessional and should be fired and stripped from being guides.
The elephant wasn't showing usual signs of aggression i.e. ear flapping, throwing dust, trumpeting. It appeared more curious than anything. Hard to say about how the guide handled the situation. There were other game viewing vehicles around so it may not have been possible for them to get out of the way. I spent 4 weeks on a conservation project in a South African game reserve and had several very similar encounters. In each case we were on a narrow track when the elephant came out of the bush and headed towards us. We couldn't go forward because the elephant was approaching us on the track and the track behind was too tight to reverse safely. We just had to sit tight and stay quiet. Frightening because when you're sitting in the highest seats in the game viewer and they get so close you're looking them in the eye you really appreciate how big and powerful they are. The only difference in my situation was that our guide would speak softly to the elephants. Apparently the theory is that it helps to let the elephant know that you are there (they don't like to be surprised) and lets the elephant know it is invading your space. I can't say with absolute certainty that the theory is correct but it seemed to work and I'm here to tell the tale.
I think that was the MOST AWESOME and MOST BEAUTIFUL THING EVER!!! I love Elephants so much and read and study everything about them I believe I would have sat there watching and talking softly to that Magnificent Majestic Creature and letting him know I wasn't going to hurt him. That was truly Magnificent and what a Beautiful, Beautiful Elephant to see in his own Habitat and not caged or being locked up in a zoo or circus but being where he was born to be free.❤🐘🙏❤🐘🙏🐘❤❤❤
If that Elephant had been in 'musth' you would all be dead. Non extra danger wrought by Guide, who knew exactly what he was doing and dealing with.. A bit of weeping from the temporal gland is NOT the only sign. Glad you had an unforgettable experience.
Johnnyboy JT He read the comments and they were wrong, if the Elephant was in musth it would of bull dozed the jeeps and people in them. Elephants become psychotic and over protective of female Elephants when in Musth and this was very placid. Go watch 2 bull Elephants fight while in Musth. This Elephant was just having a nose around. The weeping like he said isn't the only sign of musth.
Bluenose, no, that's not correct. Bulls in musth are not mindless psychotic bulldozers. And "protective" is not the word I would use regarding their attitude toward females. This looks like an older male, who is probably in better control of himself during his musth than a young bull would be.
Yes, but they are unpredictable which makes them way more dangerous. one minute he could be the nicest elephant on earth, next he could flip the cruiser with everyone in it. I've seen these guys just snap and go on destructive war paths for no reason, just be prudent and careful when encountering wildlife
Elephant might have given chase if they tried to drive away in a panic. I've seen other drivers (alone, without a car full of people) reverse toward the elephant each time the elephant began to follow until the elephant lost interest. It gave the elephant reservations about getting too close to vehicles and humans. It's safari tours like *this* that endanger everyone else because these people are acclimating wild animals to humans. The animals are losing their innate sense of wariness/fear and now get too close. It's a liability, especially with people in the vehicle who don't know how to behave and could aggravate the elephant, endangering everyone else in the vehicle in the process.
I think he couldn't really drive away because there was another safari vehicle in the front and it's blocking the road. And it looked like it had no people on it.
Berrona Lions, Tigers, Bears, Lynx's, Wolves etc. were plentiful throughout Europe until the Europeans made them extinct/endangered. At least Asians and Africans managed to preserve their wildlife.
I agree with the comments. That was a very dangerous situation. The elephant was caught between two decisions; kill them, or be curious. Those two decisions were only one foot away. These people are very lucky. That was too close and I believe these people narrowly escaped with their lives.
When Male elephants are in musth their hormone levels increase dramatically and they can become quite volatile. and they can behave like moody teenagers with a strop on!
Wow, you act like bull elephants in musth are ruthless, bloodthirsty killers. I'd say this was a *potentially* dangerous situation, say if someone had made a loud noise or stood up or something. Yes, it was incompetent of the guides to even allow this to have happened, but I think they caught this bull on a good day. He didn't seem too agitated or overly-aggressive.
The frenzied state of certain male animals, especially elephants or camels, that is associated with the rutting season. They're looking for females to breed.
THIS WAS SO INCREDIBLY UNBELIEVABLE. HE WAS SO CLAM AND SWEET. THEY ARE REALLY LUCKY. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CREATURE. THIS IS A MOMENT IN TIME THAT THIS MAY NEVER EVER HAPPEN AGAIN .THE PASSAGERS STAYED VERY CLAM. SO GRATEFUL FOR BOTH MAN AND ANIMAL GOT TO BE SO CLOSE.
Did someone wet their garments ... sure some might...!.. Damn .. that is close... That elephant realised there are living beings in the Zeep ... but didn't harm anyone ... even when he was in Musth ..!
I love those elephants so much - and I'd know how to respect them. So damn intelligent. These tourists, on the other hand do seem pretty lame and silly. .
@@sp4rky470 That's a nice way of saying that it's unfair to compare a Human to an Elephant, because Elephants are significantly less intelligent. It's not like the IQ test leaves out anything that Elephants excel over humans at.
Elephants are intelligent powerful and merciful. As soon as it sensed the fear of child. It moved on. I really wonder why the bring kids in this situations as if going out to chill
As far as impressive this looks, some limits must never be trespass. I've never been in a African safari before, and if I can some time, I would never do it in a vehicle that does not have some sort of cage or it's full body frame. That is to dangerous. You people are lucky to be alive.
The elephant was perfectly calm the whole time and showed zero signs of aggression or agitation. Elephants are incredibly intelligent and curious, and will investigate things like strange groups of apes who wander into their territory. They are very used to groups of people because they see them all the time in their territory, plus the guides know what they are doing. The tourists were incredibly safe.
I apologize for knowing a bit about animal behavior and for watching the video with my eyes open, also for not allowing a video headline to tell me what to think.
For God's sake give him an apple or a watermelon. 5:51 That's all he wants! A fruit treat. Anyone that's ever owned a pet can see that! He's like, "you gotta treat for me?"
Every tourist wants to feed this majestic animal but we are strictly told by our guide n the national park to not feed any wild animal as they could expect more out of us and start searching for more food n things could get from bad to worse
Bad idea. Don't take fruit on Safari. An elephant can smell it in your pocket and might come and get it. These are not pets. That huge bull is in musth, very irritable from the raging hormones in his system, and is perfectly equipped to flip that carryall over, killing those inside to get at the fruit.
what a thrilling experience for elephant lovers,that too a bull in musth damn close.Really awesome video.Seems the guide better know than all so that they kept the visitors so close.Though seems fatally dangerous,thanks for taping the entire sequence.Amazing..
It is ONLY by the grace of God that these people are alive. I have been to Africa & on safari in an open jeep many times. 1) The 1st thing the tell you is dress to blend in- don't bring ANY attention to yourself: wear only pale tan, beige or pale green or regular green - depending on the season. The one women could not have been more rediculious in her dress...bright blue & neon green. 2) The only person who had ANY sense in that jeep was the child. He instinctively knew there was nothing but danger in the sitiation & it was probably his sounds that saved them. 3) When you are in that type of situation... your guide will tell you as it is unfolding into a "super close encounter" : FREEZE & QUIET ( as your life literally depends on you following those exact instructions). These women were ignorant and could have incited the elephant by their heads popping up & turning this way and that and the noises they were making. QUIET means NO SOUND whatsoever. No videoing - no snapping pictures. FREEZE means - head down & you don't move A muscle. Did you see... the elephant came closest to where the child was and THEN they were ABSOLUTELY SILENT... & THEN it retreated. 4) The elephant with it's subtle swift ear movements & walking over the tree is also a bad sign. 5) Also, I could not see their eyes fully...but LOOKING directly into any wild animal's eyes- in that close of proximity - IS A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THEM...It is hard wired into their DNA. It is a miracle the elephant did not trumpet & gore them or stomped on the Jeep and kill them all in a New York minute. It just was NOT their day to die. They should count their blessings every day.
Jay Fannin I often ask myself the same question when I see safari videos of people gazing at lions and cheetahs in topless jeeps, while also wearing shorts in snake and mosquito infested lands.
