In a hilarious encounter, an inquisitive elephant stumbles upon a concealed camera and decides to investigate it further.
Frank De Beer, a wildlife photographer, strategically placed a GoPro amidst the foliage to capture a herd of elephants at South Africa’s Olifants West Nature Reserve.
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The camera’s footage unveils the majestic herd traversing the reserve. One curious elephant detects the hidden camera with its trunk and raises it toward its mouth. The inquisitive pachyderm, the last in the procession, gives the camera a curious sniff.
Although one elephant had briefly explored the camera, it soon continued its journey. De Beer, a guide at Simbavati Safari, expressed his delight at the outcome, particularly when the elephant inspected the GoPro up close.
De Beer shared, “It’s tremendously exciting because the filming outcomes are unpredictable. Elephants possess distinct personalities, some notably more interested than others.
They can sense foreign objects in their environment, as evidenced by the elephant’s cautious interaction with the GoPro.”
The elephant’s behavior included touching and tasting the unfamiliar item, eventually realizing it posed no threat. De Beer has accumulated diverse wildlife footage throughout his years in South Africa.
In a separate incident in 2020, De Beers encountered a black rhino charging toward him in the Greater Kruger National Park. Fortunately, the charge was a warning, and the rhino veered away, leaving De Beer unscathed.
In 2017, De Beers positioned a GoPro near an elephant grazing along a dry river bed in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. The camera captured the elephant using its trunk to inspect the device before sauntering off.
This comical interaction is a testament to the captivating and unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters, providing a unique glimpse into the world of these majestic creatures.
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