According to recent foreign media reports, an elephant in South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park used a passing small car as a “tool” to scratch its itch, repeatedly rubbing against the roof and terrifying the passengers inside.
According to Armand Grobler, who took the photos, the vehicle involved was a Volkswagen Polo. During the incident, the elephant repeatedly rubbed its body against the roof and even sat on the car’s hood. In the end, all the car’s windows were shattered, all four tires burst, and even the chassis was severely damaged.
“When we saw the elephant repeatedly ‘bothering’ that car, we didn’t know what to do. Later, seeing the serious damage to the vehicle, we were very worried about the safety of the driver and passengers inside. But in that situation, we really couldn’t do anything,” Grobler said in an interview with the UK’s Mirror.
Fortunately, the man and woman trapped in the car both managed to escape safely and were not seriously injured, though they were clearly shaken.
“Both of them were terrified, but they were relieved to have gotten out unharmed,” Grobler told reporters.
Grobler, who captured these dramatic moments with his camera, is 21 years old and a field guide studying accommodation management skills in Pilanesberg National Park. As such, he has some insight into why the elephant went on a rampage. Elephants often use trees or rocks to scratch themselves, but that may not have been the only reason it targeted this particular vehicle.
“When a bull elephant is in a state of high testosterone, it can be easily provoked,” Grobler explained. “However, fortunately, this bull elephant wasn’t angry or aggressive at the time—it seemed more like it was playing.”
That’s precisely why the two people in the small car were able to survive the incident unharmed.