In a surprising wildlife encounter, a South African safari became a memorable event for two tourists when an elephant used their parked VW Polo as an itch-relief station.
Armand Grobler, a 21-year-old field guide and lodge manager, captured the remarkable images in Pilanesburg National Park, South Africa.
Grobler, who studies animal behavior, particularly ethology, explained that the elephant was likely in a state of Musth, characterized by elevated testosterone levels, transforming even the calmest elephant into a robust and potentially aggressive bull.
Despite this, the elephant displayed no signs of aggression and appeared to be in a playful mood.
Typically, elephants use logs, trees, or rocks to alleviate itching, but with the car conveniently closed, the elephant couldn’t resist the opportunity.
As the massive creature leaned against the vehicle’s roof and bonnet, the occupants found themselves in a peculiar and somewhat nerve-wracking situation.
Grobler shared the tense moment, stating, “We were uncertain about how to handle the situation when the elephant made contact with the car.
As the car was being crushed, we feared for the lives of the driver and passenger, but our options were severely limited in terms of what we could do.”
Miraculously, the male and female occupants in their late 20s or early 30s escaped unharmed but were visibly shaken.
The emotional rollercoaster of adrenaline, horror, and helplessness was palpable inside the vehicle. Despite the shock, the occupants expressed gratitude for their survival.
However, the VW Polo bore the brunt of the encounter, with shattered windows, a significantly damaged roof, and a crushed top section.
All four tires blew out, and the chassis suffered extensive damage.
Remarkably, the elephant, having satisfied its itch, continued on its way, seemingly unperturbed by the unintentional destruction it had caused.