How to Survive an Elephant Attack

If you think of an elephant and imagine a cute beast you can play with, you might want to think again! Elephants are responsible for about 500 human deaths every year; in fact, they compete with hippos for the most human kills in history.

Now that you know, elephants are not your friendly neighborhood pets, here’s how to survive an elephant attack! Elephants are the king of rage and are known for stomping on their victims and crushing them with their trunks. If you meet an elephant with tusks, it gets even worse.

Before you proceed, watch our detailed video on how to survive such situation.

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There’s something you have to know;

Elephants have two forms of charges; a bluff charge and an actual charge. The kind of charge will determine whether you should run for your dear life or stay when one is charging at you.

Bluff Charge

Elephants bluff charge when they want to dispel a perceived threat. They do not intend to harm you if it’s a bluff charge. In a bluff charge, the elephant ears would look more extensive and fanned out wide if it’s a bluff. It will sway from side to side with its whole body and trunk. Pay attention! Here’s what you should do if you think it’s a bluff charge.

Relax!

Elephants are highly intelligent mammals, and over the years, they have learnt to co-exist with humans. They are not necessarily out to get you unless they feel threatened by you.

So, calm down and talk in a soft voice. Avoid giving off body language that feels threatening, like beating your chest or stomping your feet. From years of co-existing with humans, they have learnt to read our body language.

Move away from their space.

Sometimes all an elephant wants is to protect its personal space. They go through a lot in the hands of poachers, so you can’t blame them. If you’re wearing a good sneaker, you might want to run away. If it’s a bluff charge, the elephant will stop and go back to its pack.

An elephant could be angry for several reasons. Whatever the reason, here’s how to know if the elephant is out to stomp you.

Attack Charge

In an attack charge, the elephant will come at you with its ears pinned to the back, the opposite of a bluff charge. Their trunk is usually curled up underneath, not swaying like in a bluff charge and it runs directly at you. If you notice that an attack charge is imminent, you might want to;

Run!

Run for your life in a zig-zag pattern to maximise the power of your smaller stature. Elephants are enormous, so it might take a long time to change direction with you as you run.

Look for Large Blockers

Try to find large objects you can run behind to take cover. A car or a tree will not do because elephants can effortlessly barge through a tree and lift a vehicle.

Avoid Trees

Unless it’s a gigantic tree, it will not save you.  Climbing a tree might just make the elephant even angrier, so it will do everything in its power to bring the tree down. Don’t forget they have massive tusks. You stand a better chance of surviving if you run in a zig-zag manner.

Elephants are known to have a phobia of bees, so if you have the opportunity, play a bee soundtrack loudly. It might just deter them and get them running instead. What a way to turn the tables!

If you have plans to go to an elephant habitat, stay away from their kids, do not provoke them and wear sneakers so you can run just in case.