This is when an angry elephant used his trunk as a water cannon to chase off a wild dog pack.
The moment was captured on camera by Jackie Badenhorst at the Welverdiend waterhole in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
The 37-year-old said the elephant was close to a waterhole when he noticed dogs surrounding it and decided to jump in.
Raising its trunk, the elephant paraded among the dogs to enjoy the drink.
Mrs. Badenhorst, from Pretoria, said: ‘My husband and I arrived at the waterhole and found a large wild dog pack drinking.
‘Not long after we got there, a bull elephant came in the distance.
‘As he approached the waterhole, he recognized the dogs there and immediately changed his posture and attitude, raising his head to appear larger and more intimidating.
‘He shook his head around a bit and made sure they knew who’s boss.’
But when the naughty dogs didn’t scatter, the elephant started spraying water in their direction to make them more scarce.
She said that after a while at the watering hole, the elephant was still harassed by dogs and decided to retreat to a more peaceful part of the savannah.
“The dogs were quite curious, almost playful, trying to see how close they could get, how far they could push him,” she said.
‘The elephant was really cranky and tried to spray water on approaching dogs – which they would nimbly dodge!
‘Then he ran towards them and shook his head, and trumpeted. ”
She added: ‘He eventually decided to leave the area and try to find some peace and quiet.
‘The dogs continued to annoy a buffalo herd, kudus and even trying to catch some warthog for breakfast. It was a fun tool!
‘I love wild dogs and elephants, so witnessing the interaction between the two species was special.’
Ms. Badenhorst started photographing wildlife while she was permanently living in the bush.
Despite having moved back to Pretoria, she continues to photograph wildlife as much as she can.
“I am a registered field guide and have a serious passion for wildlife,” she said.
‘I started photographing wildlife when I was living in the bush many years ago.
‘Photography slowed down when I moved back to Pretoria, but I started getting back into it about five years ago.’
That’s when she invested in some good gear, and the ‘bugs hit for good,’ she said.
‘Now I go out into the bush as often as I can, and the challenge to get a great shot keeps me coming back for more and more; it’s seriously addictive! ” she added.
‘I really enjoy the adventure of traveling to faraway places, the excitement of not knowing what you may see and photograph, and at the end of the day, spending time in nature is what it’s all about.’
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