An unsuspecting lioness resting in the shade of a tree near a watering hole found herself in a precarious situation when a four-ton, 15-year-old bull elephant approached for an afternoon drink. The enormous elephant, standing 10 feet tall, was initially unaware of the lioness’s presence.
As the elephant drew nearer, the lioness found herself trapped between the water and the approaching behemoth.
She had to think quickly to avoid a potentially dangerous encounter with the thirsty elephant. In an unexpected move, she darted across the elephant’s line of sight, momentarily startling him.
However, the elephant soon recovered and charged to assert his dominance, chasing the lioness briefly before returning to quench his thirst.
British wildlife guide Mark Sheridan-Johnson, who was conducting a tour in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve at the time, captured the remarkable interaction.
Sheridan-Johnson described how he observed the lioness relaxing under the tree when he noticed the young bull elephant approaching in the distance.
As the elephant slowly made its way to the water’s edge, the lioness found herself trapped. The situation intensified as the elephant came within ten feet of her, prompting her to make a break for it.
The elephant, initially caught off guard, decided to give chase once he realized what was happening.
Fortunately for the lioness, her ability to reach speeds of up to 35 mph allowed her to escape unharmed. The elephant then continued with his evening drink.
Selous Game Reserve, the largest protected wildlife reserve in Africa, encompasses five percent of Tanzania’s total land area.
The remote reserve, located in southeastern Tanzania, features gushing rivers, rolling hills, and vast plains.
It was named in honor of British explorer Frederick Courtney Selous, who documented his travels in the region and was killed there during World War I.
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