A mother elephant reacted fiercely to a group of tourists who got too close to her calf in a marsh in Botswana, resulting in one woman being trampled and nearly drowning, as captured in wild video footage.
The incident occurred during a safari canoe tour involving several Americans and British individuals on Saturday. It’s been reported that the group approached the young elephant too closely.
Video obtained from other safari participants shows a female elephant suddenly charging at the tourists as she moved near her family.
The tour guide attempted to maneuver the canoe, called a Mokoro, away from danger, but the elephants were upon them in an instant.
As the footage reveals, the massive elephant struck the two nearest canoes, causing several tourists to fall into the water.
As the elephant began to leave, she trampled over tourists who were struggling in the water. The alarming video illustrates a moment where one woman was briefly submerged as the elephant made its way through.
Interestingly, the elephant seems to be conveying a message, appearing quite self-satisfied with her actions.
The woman involved was shaken but sustained no serious injuries.
“She was incredibly fortunate. If the elephant had kept her submerged for just a few more seconds or accidentally poked her with its tusks, it could have ended tragically,” a former South African Game Ranger explained after reviewing the video.
Many of the tourists lost their personal electronics, including phones and cameras, due to the chaos, according to the safari staff.
In Africa, adult elephants can reach impressive weights of up to 7 tons and stand around 12 feet tall, having only one real predator—humans.
Sadly, hunting has decimated elephant populations globally, with poachers often violating international laws to acquire ivory from their tusks.
Numerous countries have either outlawed elephant hunting or placed restrictions on imported ivory.
Botswana, where a third of the world’s elephant population resides, lifted its hunting ban in 2019. The president has argued that easing such restrictions was essential after successful conservation efforts led to an increase in numbers.
