An elephant in Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa, was caught on a GoPro camera stretching and yawning after waking up from a deep sleep, appearing as though it was on the wrong side of the bed.
The footage was captured by wildlife photographer Christof Schoeman, who had strategically placed the camera on top of a termite mound.
The video shows the wild bull elephant’s movements upon waking, remarkably similar to a human’s. As it wakes, the elephant reaches its trunk toward the GoPro, then rises unsteadily.
It stretches and lets out a tired yawn before standing almost motionless. However, curiosity soon takes over, and it spots the camera.
The elephant approaches lunges its trunk at the GoPro and throws gravel at it before finally knocking it off its perch.
This curious elephant isn’t sick or deceased; it’s just waking up from a deep sleep. After a period of relaxation, the elephant struggles to its feet.
South Africa’s elephant population, once ranging across most of Africa but now dramatically reduced, is protected in areas like Addo Elephant National Park and Kruger National Park.
Due to effective conservation efforts, the population in South Africa has grown from an estimated 120 elephants in 1920 to around 10,000 today.
Despite being sleepy, the bull elephant notices the camera and eagerly approaches. It flings gravel at the camera before swiping its trunk across the lens, ending the curious encounter.
