Due to their intelligence, empathy, and size, elephants are often considered to be gentle giants by those who have never seen them fight. The careful way in which they navigate the terrain around them helps to prop up this perception.
In this footage, taken by Judy Lehmberg in India, these titans collide in a fierce battle that shows just how much weight, strength, and fury they can bring to bear against an opponent when the need arises.
Indian elephants might be slightly smaller than their African cousins, but they’re no less dangerous because of this, and the males still exhibit competitive tendencies that result in confrontations like these.
Not The Time To Hold Hands
The two elephants began facing off against each other with plenty of posturing to open the proceedings. Only one was visible at the beginning of Judy’s footage as, despite their size, a bush masked the other.
They advanced on each other, the second elephant coming into view, with their trunks held high in an attempt to make themselves look bigger and more intimidating. Both animals also had their ears flared out to try and scare their opponent into backing off.
These tactics are also often paired with a fake charge to scare potential threats away, but in this scenario they were up close and personal from the beginning. So personal that at one point their trunks even curled around each other as if they were holding hands.
This moment didn’t last long before both elephants broke the contact, and it could even have been some kind of test of strength, more akin to an arm wrestle than anything else.
Line Them Up And Knock Them Down
For a brief moment, it looked like all of the posturing, trunk flexing and ear flapping might have worked, and the elephants might decide that actually fighting each other wasn’t the best idea overall.
Not only did the elephants take a step back from each other, but one of them also turned slightly so it was no longer face on with the other. This gave it the impression of being a little less aggressive, and suggested that it might be considering disengaging.
This brief moment passed quickly, however, and it became clear that the only reason these huge animals had opened up the distance between them was so that they could line up their charge, and to have more room to build up a bit of speed.
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A Very Real Charge
There was no more time for posturing, and the second elephant to come into view replaced the concept of false charges with a very real, and very solid charge.
Once it had lined itself up to face its opponent, it quickly picked up the pace and even though there was only a short distance between them, it had the acceleration necessary to crash their heads together with an almighty collision.
The other elephant planted its feet and tried to take the blow, but it couldn’t hold out against the force of the charge, and quickly started losing ground. Tusks and trunks were all involved now as the fight turned vicious.
The outcome of the fierce battle remains unknown, as Judy had to hurriedly get out of the way of the rampaging elephants. When encountering animals like these in the wild don’t get too close, or come between them and their herd.
Woman Adopts Her Perfect Dog, But One Heartbreaking Vet Visit Changes Everything
In the vast sea of dog stories, this particular one had me break into a million pieces! Taylor and Ozzie’s story is real proof of how incredible the bond between dogs and humans can be.
You laugh together, cry together, you share the most intimate secrets and moments, and you just can’t imagine living life without each other anymore! But, what do you do when everything goes wrong? What happens then?
Ozzy’s life story will reveal how truly inspiring the human-dog bond can be, even in what can only be called the worst of times.
Ozzie Was The Perfect Dog
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Taylor adopted Ozzie at just a few weeks of age. She looked on Craigslist for puppies needing to be rehomed and saw a picture of a floppy-eared, brown pup with one blue and one brown eye – and she instantly fell in love!
Ozzie looked like the perfect dog, and the fact that she had to drive from North Carolina all the way to Washington D.C. didn’t stop her! She was inclined to adopt him!
“I was in college, didn’t have that much money, had 3 roommates, was in school full time, played tennis for college full time, and worked part time. How could I fit a puppy into that schedule,” Taylor wrote on Instagram.
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The two formed an amazing bond right off the bat! He was just an amazing pup that adapted into the new life in no time. In a way, both Taylor and Ozzie shared the same hobbies and interests.
Both loved hiking, going to the beach, walking in the park, and basically any outdoor activity.
“He is THE adventure guy. He loves to go hiking, to the beach, kayaking, in the snow, to breweries, parks, literally you put him in the car (or on a train, yes, he has been on a train) and he is ready for the adventure,” wrote Taylor.
Every time they had a chance to embark on a new adventure – they took it! Ozzie has always been an adventurous boi, and that really made his new mom fall in love with him even more!
Source: @livingdogfriendly
Years later, Taylor and her partner adopted another dog, Lulu, who became Ozzie’s best friend.
The two formed an incredible bond and really enjoyed each other’s company. Their playtime was practically a zoomie-show, and despite the fact that both were so energetic, they would always end the day with the sweetest snuggling ever!
Several amazing years later, Taylor noticed Ozzie limping, and she immediately rushed him to the vet. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was horrible!
The Devastating Vet Visit
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The vet took Ozzie to do some X-rays, and ten minutes later, he came out with the heartbreaking diagnosis. Ozzie suffered from osteosarcoma – a bone tumor and he only had a couple of months to live.
After receiving the news, Taylor was devastated. She called her husband who immediately left work and came. Luckily, there was one option to extend Ozzie’s life for several extra months – the amputation of his front leg and chemo.
Source: @livingdogfriendly
The couple didn’t think twice. They agreed to subject Ozzie to treatment despite all the hardship and extra commitment that awaited.
But, even through his surgery – Ozzie was just the most enthusiastic, happiest boi! He didn’t take the smile off his face even for one bit. He was a real fighter, and so were his parents!
Ozzie got his own, big bag that Taylor and her husband got just for walks. As he didn’t have so much strength (especially after chemo) to hike and walk like he used to, the couple carried him on their back, sometimes even for several miles.
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They just couldn’t stand the idea of Ozzie not being able to enjoy his favorite things – and this was the only way to do it. His mom and dad did everything to make his quality of life better, and despite his progressing disease, Ozzie enjoyed every single moment!
The entire family helped Ozzie during his journey. Taylor’s dad, who was also battling cancer and lived in another state, felt the need to support this big boi. He’d send ice cream for Ozzie after every chemo session, which was just the cutest thing ever.
And, Lulu was just the greatest sister ever. Normally, she’s extremely hyper, but once she realized her brother was in pain, she turned into the gentlest sibling ever.
Your Memory Will Be Preserved, Good Boi
Source: @livingdogfriendly
After months of battling with his terminal disease, Ozzie sadly crossed the rainbow bridge. He lost the battle with cancer in March 2023 and went to eternal sleep.
Taylor and her husband were very heartbroken to part ways with Ozzie, but the fact that this beautiful boi had an amazing life till his last breath helped them cope.
“You touched so many lives, more than I had ever imagined a dog could. The love you gave was ever present and you lit up every room you walked into,” Taylor wrote in the touching Instagram post.
Ozzie was a unique dog, and he indeed made his family’s life so beautiful! Taylor and her family have moved to a new home in Virginia, but if I can say one thing with certainty, it’s that his legacy will certainly be remembered by his loved ones… Forever!
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