In a remote area of Kruger National Park, South Africa, this is the brutal showdown between two male bull elephants for dominance on Sunday (February 27).
"I was traveling alone in a remote part when I noticed a very large elephant bull shaking a tree in the distance, not looking happy at all. I decided to stop and see what it was all about. I quickly realized that on the other side of the tree was another, equally massive, bull elephant that also did not look happy," the filmer tells Newsflare.
This video shows what two massive elephants bulls are capable off when they become angry with each other, using their sheer strength and power to smash down and destroy trees during a dominance standoff.
I was traveling alone in a remote part of the Kruger National Park when I noticed a very large elephant bull shaking a tree in the distance, not looking happy at all. I decided to stop and see what it was all about. I quickly realised that on the other side of the tree was another, equally massive, bull elephant that also did not look happy. Aggressive interactions between mature bulls are rare and usually low key, although serious and even fatal fights sometime occur when two bulls of equal size compete over a cow and both are ready for mating. The two massive elephant bulls in front of me showed serious aggression towards each other and took it out on the trees in front of them. By smashing and breaking down the trees, the elephant bull was showing off their incredible strength to each other in a threatening manner. This is one of the ways mature elephant bulls use to settle their differences instead of getting into physical contact. The elephants would destroy a tree from both sides before moving on to the next one. There was loud trumpeting, accompanied by the loud sounds of breaking branches, amplifying their threat displays. Sitting there, watching and listening to all that aggression made me feel very insignificant. With each elephant easily weighing over five tons, I realised that the largest land mammal on earth should not be messed with when angry. The one elephant then decided to pick up a large branch with his trunk and started shaking his head wildly up and down, holding onto the branch. This head shaking of the angry bull looked extremely intimidating to me and it was not long before the elephant nearest to me decided that it was time to get out of there. In a very submissive manner, the bull elephant started retreating by walking backwards slowly, away from his opponent. Just as I thought things would calm down, I suddenly realised this elephant bull’s focus went from his opponent directly onto my vehicle. After seeing what that elephant bull was capable off, my heart jumped into my throat. I honestly thought that my vehicle became the next target for his aggression. The elephant approached the vehicle while still looking very dangerous and aggravated. I skipped a few heartbeats as the bull elephant approached. Lucky for me, the elephant bull suddenly stopped and started moving backwards, slowly making an exit in a strangely submissive manner before disappearing behind a bush. My heart was still racing and I was very relieved to see the big elephant disappear. This sighting gave me a new perspective and a whole new level of respect for these animals.
