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Angry elephant attacks game-drive vehicle at Selati reserve

 

None of the trainees or instructors were injured during the charge.


A video of an enraged elephant charging at a game drive vehicle was shared on social media and has since taken the internet by storm.

The incident took place at the Selati Game Reserve on Sunday, according to Anton Lategan from EcoTraining.

Lategan said an EcoTraining instructor and a group of trainees came across a breeding herd of elephants during a routine activity at the game reserve.

He said: “The vehicle stopped to observe the elephants and give them a chance to settle down”, however, an elephant bull “mock-charged the vehicle”.

 

One of two videos circulating on social media showing an elephant bull charging a game vehicle at the Selati Game Reserve on Sunday. Wildlife guide training company EcoTraining confirmed the incident. pic.twitter.com/YNlByYmCQc

— Matthew Savides (@matthewsavides) November 29, 2021

 

“On a routine activity, the EcoTraining instructor and trainees came across a breeding herd of elephants. The vehicle stopped to observe the elephants and give them a chance to settle down.

“An elephant bull, who was with the breeding herd, mock charged the vehicle and mock charged again when they moved forward slowly, the elephant made contact with the vehicle and pushed it off the road,” said EcoTraining MD Anton Lategan.

He said that once the vehicle had come to a standstill, the trainees were moved to a second vehicle stopped nearby. The two instructors who were with the group had 25 years experience in the field.

Video of the incident was recorded by someone in the second vehicle, and has been circulating widely on social media. EcoTraining said it wasn't known who had recorded the video, but confirmed its authenticity.

Selati Game Reserve general manager Bryan Havemann, who went to the scene after the incident, said: “Though the vehicle was damaged, thankfully none of the people on the vehicle were injured.”

All those involved in the incident received counselling.

 

 

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