Brent Schnupp submitted this amusing video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while visiting South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Here comes trouble
The entertainment begins with a typical bushveld scene. As Brent and his companions watch, a mixed herd of species are gathered around an artificial waterpoint.
As they watch, they notice that an elephant is approaching from the background. They’re amused that the young bull has a distinctive swagger, as do the various animals nearby.
Universal warning
As the elephant gets to within a few metres of the trough, he flares his ears, warning all before him to give way or face the consequences.
Message received and understood
In the complex world of animal body language, the bull’s message is unmistakable. Consequently, the zebras, buffalo and a warthog obediently move off.
Up until this point, everything seems to be going according to the bull’s plan. That is, until he gets closer and notices there’s a fly in the ointment. Or, more precisely, a pig in the puddle.
We note, too, that a second warthog is hiding behind a nearby cement block, presumably the partner or parent of the pig inside the drinking trough.
I’m trying my best!
Used to getting his way, the elephant shows his displeasure with the headstrong hog by flaring his ears, waving his trunk and trumpeting.
Subsequently, the little warthog tries to get out of the way, but its efforts are somehow stymied, and it falls back into the bottom of the trough.
Perplexed by the pig’s behaviour, the elephant seems at a loss. Even a nearby zebra looks on in apparent disbelief.
Maybe he didn’t notice me?
Convinced that might is right, the elephant again tries using various threat displays to speed up the wayward warthog’s departure.
While this has the desired effect on the bystanders, the problem pig seems unmoved, literally and figuratively. Seeing this, Brent and his companions begin to wonder if the warthog has injured itself.
A different approach
Thinking a different approach might do the trick, the elephant circles around to the near side of the trough. Still curious, the zebras come closer to watch matters unfold.
For some reason, this seems to do the trick as the warthog easily scurries out of the water hole. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
In the image above, the diminutive pig is just visible between the elephant’s front legs.
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So, drink already!
Thankfully, there are no signs of injury. But equally, the warthog seems in no particular hurry to evacuate the area.
As the bull looks on, the hog stays rooted to the spot. From its point of view, the hog seems to feel it’s done enough for the elephant to enjoy its drink in peace.
That’ll do, pig
After giving it some thought, it appears that the elephant comes to the same conclusion. Keeping a close eye on the ousted porcine pest, the bull lowers his trunk into the water, finally enjoying the drink he’d been waiting for.
If nothing else, this video is a great reminder of the obstinate courage of warthogs, even when faced with overwhelming odds.
