SUV accelerates to escape elephant in Kenya

Wildlife photographer Mwangi Kirubi, 43, was taking photos in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, when he saw two cars of strangers honking, passing over speed limits, and scaring the reserve elephants. One of the animals was so frightened that he almost stepped on another vehicle, where his professional friends were.

The alarming episode was shared by Kirubi in July on Instagram, but it only gained attention now, when it was released today by the British website Daily Mail. The publication made by the photographer tells that the frightened animal was female and the matriarch of the flock.

In the post on the social network, the photographer reveals images he took of the elephant’s approach and describes everything that happened. He says that he was initially in the company of his three friends, but, at the time, when the fast cars honked to ask for tickets, the professional “took care of his own business”, taking pictures.

At first, it was not clear how the unknown vehicles had agitated the elephants. When the pair of speeding cars left the scene, the female approached one of the photographers’ cars and nearly crushed it.

The group, fortunately, managed to escape and was not injured. “It was a lucky break,” said Kirubi.

He even made an alert to ensure the safety of visitors to the reserve. “Next time you are in the park, please observe the speed limits and be on the lookout for wildlife and other visitors [do local]. Thank you “, he asked.