A heart-stopping moment was captured on camera as a charging elephant chased two tourists in Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, India. The tourists had left their car to take selfies with the elephant when it suddenly charged towards them. In a terrifying turn of events, one of the men tripped and fell, narrowly escaping being kicked by the elephant’s hind leg.
The dramatic chase was filmed by a person in another car, showing the men running for their lives as the elephant pursued them. Fortunately, the animal was distracted by a passing bus and turned away from the men, allowing them to escape unharmed.
Savad C.A, another tourist who witnessed the incident, expressed his fear for the safety of the men, stating that at one point, they thought one of them would be trampled by the elephant. The Karnataka Forest Department has launched an inquiry into the incident and efforts are underway to identify the two tourists involved.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of approaching wild animals in their natural habitat. Trespassing on prohibited forest land is punishable by law, and tourists are urged to maintain a safe distance from wildlife to avoid such harrowing encounters. Last month, a similar incident occurred in Zambia, where an elephant charged at a safari truck, flipping it and tragically killing an elderly American woman.