The mature buffalo approached the water to join the elephant herd while they were cooling down at the Spekboom lagoon in the Addo Elephant National Park, Sᴏᴜᴛʜ Aғʀɪᴄᴀ, when the overconfident calf was among them.
The calf charged at the buffalo in the strange notion that his little frame would somehow scare the enormous animal into fleeing the vicinity, while the adult elephants appeared to pay little mind to their new drinking partner.
The bull, obviously not in the least afraid, waited patiently until the baby elephant was within striking distance before ramming him with his enormous horned head. The calf was launched into the air many feet before tumbling back to the Sᴏᴜᴛʜ Aғʀɪᴄᴀn plains.
It’s likely that the calf changed his mind as he approached the buffalo, but it was already too late. The young elephant’s body contorted in a painful-looking manner as the unexpected foes came together before he ended up in an embarrassed heap on the ɢʀᴀss. Although the calf’s pride was definitely wounded, he avoided serious injury and spent the rest of the day hiding behind his mother.
Conrad Cramer, a local wildlife guide, captured the entire regrettable occurrence, which occurred in March, on camera. What astonished Mr. Cramer was that the other elephants appeared to view the series of unfortunate events as a lesson the youngster needed to learn rather than being upset by them in any way.
After the clearly one-sided battle, the male buffalo remained in the vicinity, completely unaffected by the presence of the young calf’s herd. The elephants likewise exhiBɪᴛᴇd little interest in the conflict, almost as if they had learned a vital lesson from the calf’s foolish attempt at intimidation.
