Before thinking better of it and running back to its mother, a baby elephant attempts to charge a busload of tourists with its most ferocious charge.
A 12-month-old calf was filmed charging at tourists staying at the Mfuwe Lodge in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
It also attempts to leap onto its back legs, practicing its most frightening assaults. However, the rest of the herd continues to graze without noticing it.
When the calf sees it’s on its own, it reconsiders the daring advance and spins around, and runs back to his mother as fast as it can.
Amy Alderman, from The Bushcamp Company, which runs the photographic safaris, said: It’s unusual to see a young calf behaving like this.
The babies usually cling to their mother’s tummy until they’re a year old, and this little guy appears to be brave enough to venture into the world for the first time.
‘He’s already tried a little jump, which is no easy task for an elephant.
He’s a little rambunctious and probably wants to find out what he can get away with pushing the boundaries.’
‘But when the rest of the herd completely ignore the busload of tourists and his attempt at scaring them off, he obviously still needs his mum – because it’s not long before he runs back to her!
‘I enjoy watching elephants, especially when the group has young calves.
‘It’s very amusing to watch them attempt to learn how to stand and use their trunks.’
