15 November 2011, 08:13
GAHUNTERAnybody remember the video of the elephants swimming the Zambezi, then charging?
A lot of rumors were going about about it with some saying the photographer was killed.
Well, the true story of that video was shown on Travel Channel's "When Vacations Attack" this last weekend. No one was killed (strictly a matter of good luck), but one of the canoes was cut in half by the enraged cow. The guide was able to get a round chambered and fired one over the cow's head to stop her charge.
Seeing as the charge was his fault by beaching the canoes within 25 yards of where the elephants were emerging from the river, I guess it was the least he could do.
15 November 2011, 15:46
JudgeGI remember the video. I assume this is it:
Elephant attack on canoeIf I'd been there, I think I'd have not been videoing, but paddling like heck!
15 November 2011, 22:13
LionHunterI've been in small aluminum boats on the Chobe River - many years ago - when over 100 Ele came down the Bots side of Chobe National Park and swam across to Zambia. This only happens on average approximately once a month. I was very busy shooting video of this incredible event. It is thrilling to be on the river while these magnificent creatures swim across and to watch how they manage the calfs to get them across safely.
There is no way a boat should be beached under these circumstances and our boatman got us as close to the Ele on the river as I was comfortable. It's the "Disney effect" that gets tourists into trouble throughout Africa and these idiots could have been seriously injured or killed. I would bet they paid their guide to let them beach the canoe. Might have cleaned-up the gene pool a bit, however.
16 November 2011, 02:24
Use Enough GunSame Disney effect that gets one or two tourists killed or severely injured in Yellowstone National Park each year by bison.