In a humorous encounter caught on video, an elephant in South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park decided to hurry along a tortoise moving too slowly across its path.
The large animal was seen nudging and kicking the tortoise, seemingly irritated by the smaller creature’s leisurely pace.
Watch the video at the end.
Anton Swanpoel, who filmed the interaction while on holiday with his wife Hantie, described the unusual scene as amusing and surprising.
Swanpoel, 48, from Western Cape, explained, “We arrived at Spekboom hide and saw two elephants at the waterhole.
One appeared a bit irritable, and that’s when it nudged the tortoise, which started running faster than I’ve ever seen a tortoise move.”
As the tortoise tried to make a quick getaway, the elephant kicked it a second time, speeding up its exit. Despite the elephant’s persistent nudges, the tortoise emerged unharmed from the encounter.
Reflecting on the experience, Swanpoel shared, “It was another surprising wildlife moment in Africa. I almost forgot I had a camera in hand! I was half-expecting the elephant to step on the tortoise. I’ve never seen anything like it and probably won’t again.”
This lighthearted encounter provided an unforgettable memory for Swanpoel and a reminder of the unexpected wonders that often occur in the wild.
