When an Elephant Needed a Tummy Rub...
This is the moment a bull elephant decided to scratch an itch on a parked car.
The two terrified occupants of this VW Polo found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time as a giant elephant stooped down to rub itself against the vehicle's roof and bonnet.
The incredible images were taken by Armand Grobler, 21, a field guide and lodge manager, in Pilanesburg National Park in South Africa.
There were two people inside the car at the time the massive bull elephant started playing with it….
'Yet even though it was in this condition, it displayed no signs of aggression or frustration and was in a more playful mood.'
Elephants frequently use logs, small trees and rocks to relieve an itch or remove parasites - but with the car so close to hand, it was a chance too good to pass up.
Mr Grobler added: 'We were unsure of what to do in the situation when the elephant made contact with the car, and when the car was being crushed, we feared for the lives of the driver and passenger but our efforts were very limited as to what we could do.
After the elephant had finished the car was left with 4 blown tires and a broken chassis ....
The photos were taken by Armand Grobler, a field guide and lodge manager in Pilanesburg, South Africa.
The two passengers in the car, male and female, both in late 20's or early 30's, were not harmed, only badly shaken up.
They were both in shock but happy to be alive.
'The car was not so lucky. From what we could see and hear, all the windows were smashed, the roof was badly dented and the entire top part of the car smashed…..
'All four tyres had been blown and the chassis broken.'
As for the elephant, after giving itself a good scratch, it continued on its way, itch free oblivious to the destruction it had left behind.
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Dr. Vijay Pithadia, FIETE, PhD, MBA Director, PhD Guided: 5, Author of 6 Books, Google Scholar Citations - 617, h-index - 8, i10-index-8, M: +91 9898422655 UGC/Scopus/Web of Science Publication: 31, Referred Publication: 66, Book Chapters: 12, Full Papers Published in Conference Proceedings: 21, Patent Published: 3, Invited Lectures and Chairmanship etc.: 41, Conference Organized: 4, AICTE faculty ID: 1-24647366683