As one of the largest land animals on the planet, elephants tend to cut an imposing figure regardless of the context of their appearance. This one decided to make a point of this by intimidating a group of lions in a spectacular fashion.
Danielle Sheedy caught this altercation on camera, two kilometers from Tshokwane, and sent the footage to Latest Sightings. It was a tense moment for the lions as they saw themselves very suddenly at risk of injury.
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It was also an embarrassing moment for this pride, that showed them maybe they weren’t the pinnacle of strength and power that they considered themselves to be.
A Nervous Faceoff
Lying in the shadow of a large tree, trying to find refuge from the heat of the sun, the pride of lions discovered, to their discomfort, that an elephant was nearby watching them.
Ordinarily secure in their own strength, the mere presence of a single adult elephant was enough to have these lions looking a little worried, especially as it was standing imposingly nearby and staring at them.
Lions, and other predators, might hunt elephant calves if they find them in a vulnerable situation, but healthy adult elephants are extremely difficult to hunt. Their size, strength and determination to protect themselves and their young means it’s often not worth the effort.
Springing Into Action
After staring down the pride of lions for what it obviously considered a suitable period of time, the elephant decided that intimidating expressions simply weren’t enough.
There wasn’t enough room for it to build up to a proper charge, but an animal of that size doesn’t need to have much speed behind it to be a threat. The lions saw it coming their way and immediately made the wise decision to move.
With its ears out and its trunk raised high, the elephant was ramping up its intimidation tactics by making itself look as big as it possibly could. This proved to be extremely effective as the lion pride scattered in every direction rather than stand and face the behemoth.
Sore Losers
The lion pride had been scared and humiliated and they clearly weren’t happy about it at all. The elephant had barreled into them seemingly just for the sake of it, as it didn’t try to claim the shady spot for itself.
Angry and upset, the lions didn’t flee far. As apex predators at the top of their food chain, being treated this way was insulting, and for a few moments they milled around seemingly deciding whether this was going to become a proper fight.
If essential resources had been involved the lions might have tried to make this more of an issue, but the only thing they’d lost was shelter and although this was important, it was also abundant beneath the many trees nearby.
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Dignified Withdrawal
Soundly deposed, the pride of lions took their time retreating to the shade of the next tree. Close behind them the elephant didn’t let them rest, making sure they moved far enough away that it could relax.
The reason for the elephant’s animosity towards the big cats remained unclear, but as intelligent and empathetic animals it was entirely possible that this individual elephant really does not like lions, and chases them wherever it can.
For the lions it was a reminder that there’s always a bigger fish in the sea, and that they would always have to remain on high alert if they wanted to keep themselves safe.
