In moments like these, you forget that these animals are truly wild.
Many dream of taking a safari excursion, exploring the African plains, and witnessing animals in their natural habitat rather than at a zoo. While these trips often lead to life-changing moments that most cherish for the rest of their lives, instances like this remind people that they are entering THEIR homes, which can sometimes lead to tragic accidents.
Yesterday, April 2nd, a terrifying video was shared on social media of a 5-ton bull elephant changing a safari vehicle in Zambia, flipping it multiple times, leaving passengers injured, and killing an 80-year-old American tourist.
“At around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning the six guests were on the game drive when the vehicle was unexpectedly charged by the bull elephant.”
The New York Post reported Wilderness Zambia CEO Keith Vincent said in a statement.
“Our guides are all extremely well-trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough.”
The video shows the car cruising along the brush line when the crazed elephant comes into the frame. The elephant runs alongside the vehicle but is still yards away. When the car hits a block in its path, it stops, and the elephant makes a B-line towards the vehicle, bearing down its tusks and flips it.
The guide shouts in the video in an attempt to scare off the animal, but it is unsuccessful. As the elephant flipped the vehicle multiple times, those inside were shaken up, leading to one death and one woman hospitalized. The four other passengers were treated for minor injuries from the accident.
Once the animal retreated, the passengers and guide were rescued from a helicopter and returned to their resort.
“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died. We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident.”
