A playful elephant recently wandered into a game lodge in South Africa to quench its thirst for a swimming pool. It provided an unforgettable close-up encounter for a game ranger who captured the event on film.

Eugene Troskie, a 34-year-old wildlife manager, was relaxing on the deck of Lion Place Lodge, which he operated within the Grietjie Private Game Reserve inside Kruger National Park when a herd of elephants appeared.

As a young male elephant, estimated to be around 20 years old, began to drink from the pool using its trunk, Troskie quickly grabbed his phone to record the astonishing moment.

Watch the video at the end.

Fancy Bumping Into You Cheeky Elephant Has Very Close Encounter With Game Ranger After It Sneaks A Drink From His Swimming Pool 1 — The juvenile elephant wanders into a game lodge in South Africa to have a slurp of water while wildlife manager Eugene Troskie records the amazing moment. Source: Daily Mail

Unexpectedly, the elephant approached Troskie, leaning against a tree, to feed on fresh shoots. The elephant seemed unaware of Troskie’s presence, allowing its tusk to rest briefly on the ranger’s shoulder.

Troskie remained calm, drawing on his ten years of experience as a game ranger to avoid startling the magnificent creature.

Lion Place Lodge, located near Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province, is home to the “Big 5” of African wildlife: elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses.

Fancy Bumping Into You Cheeky Elephant Has Very Close Encounter With Game Ranger After It Sneaks A Drink From His Swimming Pool 2 — As Mr. Troskie rests against a tree bearing juicy shoots, the animal, aged around 20, heads his way to Lion Place Lodge in the Grietjie Private Game Reserve inside Kruger National Park. Source: Daily Mail

Fancy Bumping Into You Cheeky Elephant Has Very Close Encounter With Game Ranger After It Sneaks A Drink From His Swimming Pool 3 — Before aiming straight at the ranger, the elephant chomps a short while on some vegetation. Source: Daily Mail

Fancy Bumping Into You Cheeky Elephant Has Very Close Encounter With Game Ranger After It Sneaks A Drink From His Swimming Pool 4 — The animal then notices the shoots which Mr. Troskie is sitting against and goes to feast on them. At this point, the ranger stays very still – and the elephant gets so close that his right tusk makes contact with Mr. Troskie’s shoulder. Source: Daily Mail

The 2,800-hectare savannah reserve often sees herds of elephants visiting a nearby waterhole. Some occasionally venture into the lodge area for a drink from the pool, much to the guests’ delight.

Troskie, a married father of one, shared his thoughts on the extraordinary experience: “It was the most incredible of encounters to have a wild elephant who was unaware of your presence rest his tusk on you, but I knew I was never in any danger from the animal.”

Cheeky Elephant Was Very Close With Ranger After It Sneaks A Drink From His Pool5 — ‘If you approached them at their waterhole, they would perceive you as a threat, but when they come into a lodge, everything smells of humans, so they are not surprised by humans,’ said married father-of-one Mr. Troskie. Source: Daily Mail

Cheeky Elephant Was Very Close With Ranger After It Sneaks A Drink From His Pool6 — Mr. Troskie also took this picture of a trio of tuskers having a lekker [‘delicious’] drink of water at his lodge. Source: Daily Mail

Watch the video below:

Canidae Pet Food Reviews: An In-Depth Look

Choosing the right pet food is crucial for the health and well-being of our furry friends. In this blog post, we'll delve deep into Canidae pet food, a popular choice among pet owners, and provide an in-depth review based on various sources.

Canidae is a well-known brand in the pet food industry, offering a range of products designed to cater to pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

Product Range:

Canidae All-Life Stages (Dry): This vet-formulated product suits dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. It's available in both dry and wet formulas.
Canidae Pure: A limited-ingredient diet crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Each recipe typically includes 7 to 10 ingredients.

Key Ingredients

The Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein Formula, which represents the brand's product line, contains ingredients like chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, and barley. Chicken meal, the primary ingredient, is a meat concentrate with nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

Recalls and Safety

Canidae has had recalls in the past. It's essential to stay updated with the brand's recall history to ensure your pet's safety.

Customer Reviews

The Canidae Dog Food product line has earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars from The Dog Food Advisor. The Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food has received the Advisor's second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: High protein content, suitable for all life stages, contains beneficial ingredients like flaxseed and taurine.
Cons: It contains some controversial ingredients, and not all minerals are chelated, which might affect absorption.

Conclusion

Canidae All Life Stages is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a notable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein. With an above-average protein content and a profile suggesting a significant amount of meat, it comes highly recommended for pet owners.