In a striking display of youthful bravado, a young elephant calf was launched into the air after challenging a mighty bull buffalo at Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa.
The incident occurred at the Spekboom lagoon, where a herd of elephants enjoyed a drink. A mature buffalo approached the water, seemingly unbothered by the presence of the elephants.
However, one particularly bold calf decided to take matters into his own hands, charging at the buffalo to scare him off.
The adult elephants listened little to the buffalo’s arrival, but the calf’s aggressive behavior caught everyone’s attention. Unfortunately for the calf, the buffalo was unfazed by the tiny challenger.
As the calf got within striking distance, the buffalo used his massive, horned head to shove the calf, sending him several feet into the air before he crashed back down onto the savanna.
As the calf approached the buffalo, it likely reconsidered its decision, but it was too late. The young elephant’s body twisted awkwardly mid-air before landing in a heap on the grass.
Though the calf’s pride was wounded, he escaped serious injury and spent the rest of the day hiding behind his mother.
This dramatic encounter was captured on camera by local wildlife guide Conrad Cramercaptured this dramatic encounter in March. “What surprised me was that the other elephants were not disturbed by the events but seemed to regard it as a lesson the youngster had to learn,” Cramer noted.
Despite the commotion, the bull buffalo remained in the area, undeterred by the presence of the elephant herd. The adult elephants appeared indifferent to the dispute, perhaps recognizing the calf’s failed attempt at intimidation as a valuable learning experience.
