During a recent safari in the Kruger National Park, we stopped at a small watering hole to see if any animals were coming to drink during the heat of the day. Nothing happened at first but soon a lone warthog arrived at the water for a drink. Not long after, out of nowhere, a lone elephant bull arrived at the water. The elephant bull quickly noticed the warthog down by the water quenching its thirst. The elephant bull did not look happy with the presence of the warthog. The elephant bull then gave a short, quick, and silent charge towards the warthog, ears and trunk raised, attempting to chase the warthog away from the water.
With elephants being the largest land mammals on our planet, they also consume the most food and water in the African wild. When it comes to water, elephants are mostly selfish, hardly ever prepared to share a watering hole with other animals. Due to their size, elephants can intimidate most animals and chase them away from a watering hole that they want to claim for themselves. Things looked different on this day though.
After the first attempt, the warthog just moved off a little and continued to drink, ignoring the elephant bull. The bull elephant did not like that response and came charging towards the warthog again, this time with more intense body language, letting out loud screams and trumpeting noises, flapping the ears, swinging his trunk, and kicking up dust. It was hilarious to watch the warthog just moving off a little before ignoring the angry elephant again. The elephant bull stood there all confused for a while before it decided to rather move on and find another watering hole. This was the first time that I have ever seen a warthog not running away from such intimidating behavior coming from an elephant. The warthog stood its ground and amazingly just ignored the angry elephant most of the time.