An agitated elephant bull threw a clump of soil at a photographer, leaving them "totally stunned".
The rare encounter was captured on February 22 in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
"I was out driving in the wilderness area for about an hour without seeing any animals until I suddenly came across a small herd of elephants. To my left I had a steep drop off to a river, in front of me about ten elephants blocking the road and to my right one bull elephant feeding alone," the filmer said.
The footage shows the male elephant facing toward the camera pacing back and forth. This left the filmer a little nervous: "With his unpredictable behaviour and with a few intimidating steps towards me and backwards again, I just knew this elephant bull had me in his full focus and was busy cooking up something for me in his head.
"All these thoughts raced through my head, and I became just a little nervous. Not knowing what this animals next move was going to be, while knowing exactly what they are capable off, had me concerned."
Then the wild animal picked up a clump of soil with its trunk and flung it over the filmer.
The filmer recounts their encounter: "Then something I have never seen or experienced before happened. The elephant bull came literally 3 metres close to me, just standing there, looking, and smelling me, freaking me out when he suddenly started kicking the wet soil with his front right foot.
"The next moment... wham! A trunk full of wet soil straight over me, my camera, and the seats of the vehicle.
"I was totally stunned by the behaviour of this elephant, realising that he knew exactly what he was doing. It was clear that this big boy did not like me.
"The elephant bull then just stood there looking at me, like a naughty schoolboy trying to look all innocent.
"I had so many scary thoughts going through my mind of what this elephant might do to me, but I was seriously relieved that it all ended with me being thrown with a trunk full of soil and not trampled.
"After just standing there staring at me as if nothing happened, the elephant lost interest in me and moved on. Thank goodness. I decided to move on and get out of the area and leave the elephants at peace.
"After my nerves settled, I realised how hilarious the whole incident was. I still cant believe of all the things that the bull elephant could have done, he very precisely and full of intent decided I deserved a trunk full of wet soil.
"This was a unique elephant close encounter I wont forget for a very long time."
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