Angry elephant charges safari visitors at Pilanesberg Park [VIDEO]

An angry elephant recently attacked a safari vehicle in the Pilanesberg National Park, and it was caught on camera. 

THE ELEPHANT IS VISIBLY ANGRY AS IT ATTACKS THE VEHICLE

The video quickly went viral after it was posted on social media and YouTube. 

The video depicts a large, visibly angry elephant bull standing in the middle of the road.

The driver tries to scare the elephant off by banging on his vehicle, but the elephant bull charges straight to the vehicle, hitting it head-on and lifting it with his tusks.

It remains unclear when this incident occurred or if anyone sustained injuries.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE ANGRY ELEPHANT ATTACK HERE: 

‘ELEPHANTS ARE USUALLY PEACEFUL ANIMALS’

According to SANParks, elephants are usually peaceful animals. 

“Females may, however, be aggressive when young calves are present and bulls can be exceptionally aggressive during musth.

“All elephants may become aggressive when sick, injured or harassed.” 

SANParks furthermore said elephants react to threats or challenges in three different ways. 

AN ANGRY ELEPHANT REACTS TO THREATS OR CHALLENGES IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS

“Dominance or threat displays are designed to demonstrate the superior strength and social position of the individual.

“They may look towards the threat, spreading their ears out. ‘Standing tall’, they raise their head and tusks high. You can also see head-shaking and trunk-swishing

It added that elephants may run at the threat in a demonstration or real charge. 

“Most charges are mock charges which are broken off before the target is reached.

“However, if an attack is followed through, an elephant is quite capable of killing another elephant, other animals, including humans, or wrecking cars.” SANPark said.

HERE ARE SUBMISSIVE ACTIONS THAT HIGHLIGHT AN ELEPHANT’S FEAR OR INDECISION: 

Defensive or submissive actions highlight an elephant’s fear or indecision.

SANPark also added that these actions include avoidance, agitated curling trunk movements, dust throwing, foot-swinging, and exaggerated feeding behaviour.

HOW TO SURVIVE AN ANGRY ELEPHANT ATTACK? 

According to a report by StoneAgeMan your best bet is to read the signals early and recognize if you see a mock or real charge. Here is what you do in each case.

“If an elephant does attack-charge you, it will use its tusks to gore you, throw you, and crush you. It will often keep stomping until you’re dead. Since elephants can plow down trees, flip cars, and run up to 40km an hour, you have little chance of outrunning them.”the report said.

If you read the body language and believe it’s a mock charge, do the following:

• Stay calm. This sounds counterintuitive.
• Show them you’re not a threat. Remember, they’re smart, and if humans regularly expose them, they can read your body language.This means talking in a soft voice, not waving your hands or beating your chest.
• Give them space. Remember, the elephant wants you out of their personal space. It doesn’t mean you need to run. If you can run and you’re wearing good sneakers, go for that.
• If they keep approaching despite your calm, yelling becomes an option here. It shows that you are not intimidated and could pose a threat yourself if they approach more. Let’s hope this is as far as it gets.

YOU ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IF IT IS NOT A MOCK CHARGE

If it’s not a mock charge, you’re in serious trouble. Here is what the StoneAgeMan advised you to do if an angry elephant attacks:

• Run – and run in a zig-zag pattern. This utilizes your smaller mass. Hopefully, they can’t change direction as fast as you.
• Get a large object between you and the elephant – the bigger the better. Don’t forget that they can flip cars and plow through small shrubs. 
• Don’t climb a tree unless it’s a massive tree. Let’s face it, that tree will have to be really big or the elephant will just knock it down. Plus, so many of the trees in Africa are full of thorns. You’re better off using your energy running.