Elephant (!) charges canoes, attacked woman cheats death

[Glenn MacGrady]

"This is the terrifying moment two couples from the UK and the US cheated death when a rampaging elephant flipped their safari canoes and struck one of the women with its trunk."

"They were being poled 'gondola style' through the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, on Saturday. "

Terrifying moment couples cheat death when elephant flips their canoes

The two couples - both husband and wife and said to be British - were being poled 'gondala style' through the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Apparently, this is not the first time for elephant attacks on canoes. Some practical advice for those of us who paddle frequently in elephant waters:

What To Do When An Elephant Charges Your Canoe

What would you do if a 6,000-pound angry bull elephant charged your canoe? If you’re National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Beverly Joubert, you hunker

paddlingmag.com

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

In terms of causing human deaths per year, elephants are the ninth deadliest members of the animal kingdom, killing about 500 people a year.

Don't feel safe if you don't paddle among hippos and elephants. You all canoe (and non-canoe) among the two deadliest animals BY FAR.

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/deadliest-animals-to-humans

 

[Alan Gage]

Don't feel safe if you don't paddle among hippos and elephants. You all canoe (and non-canoe) among the two deadliest animals BY FAR

I didn't look up the answers but mosquitoes have gotta be #1. I'll guess dogs are #2.

EDIT: I just looked at the list and should have stuck with my gut on #2 but I didn't think the list would go that way.

Alan

 

[Mason]

When my daughter and I were going through the papyrus waterways of the Okavango via makoro a few years ago, all of a sudden the boats ahead of us were backing up swiftly, having come across an unexpected hippo. Although nothing happened, things were pretty exciting, as there's not much room to move (see pic). Having seen lots of hippos and elephants in other areas of Botswana, you get a real sense of awe around them. They're big, and can be short-tempered (we had a brief standoff with a young bull elephant while in the truck). I saw some brief hippo charges, and they catch your attention! The vid shown is impressive.

 

[Gamma1214]

And people worry about cuddly critters like bears and moose(s).

Glad nobody was killed but ya have to wonder if maybe they could have outrun that beast if the guide was using a bent shaft or a (gasp)... kayak paddle

 

[scoutergriz]

And people worry about cuddly critters like bears and moose(s).

Glad nobody was killed but ya have to wonder if maybe they could have outrun that beast if the guide was using a bent shaft or a (gasp)... kayak paddle

hippos can reach speeds of up to 8kmh (5mph) in water so you better be a sprint paddler

 

[ppine]

Thanks for the great video. I have always wanted to visit Africa but probably won't make it. Now it is very expensive and it is not a new idea.

The greatest range ecosystems in the world exist on the Dark Continent. The wildlife is unbelievable. The rivers might be the most dangerous places to visit due to the existence of hippos and crocodiles, not to mention elephants.

Wowee.

 

[Punkinhead]

My brother was a whitewater river guide on the Zambezi river in Zimbabwe. He said hippos were the scariest followed closely by crocodiles. I've never paddled among elephants but some friends and I were in South Africa hanging out on the roof rack of a Land Rover when a herd crossed in front of us. A large male faced off with us and flared its ears out to make itself look even bigger. We wasted no time getting back in the vehicle although in hindsight it wouldn't have offered much protection if the elephant really wanted to squash us.